Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in Illawarra, Snowy Mountains and parts of Mid North Coast, Hunter, Metropolitan, South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, Australian Capital Territory, Northern Tablelands, North West Slopes and Plains and South West Slopes Forecast Districts.

Issued at 7:17 pm Friday, 29 August 2025.

Damaging winds continuing about the southern and central ranges today, expanding to the northern ranges Saturday. Blizzards possible for alpine areas.

Weather Situation: A strong cold front is currently crossing the state. A strengthening northwesterly airstream ahead of this front will result in damaging winds about elevated parts of the east.

For ALPINE AREAS above 1900 metres: DAMAGING NORTHWESTERLY WINDS averaging 80 to 90 km/h with gusts of around 110 km/h are forecast to persist throughout today, briefly increasing to around 120 km/h with showers and storms. DAMAGING WINDS will shift westerly overnight then southwesterly Saturday morning. Winds are forecast to ease below warning thresholds during Saturday afternoon.

For EASTERN AREAS (below 1900 metres): Strong west to northwesterly winds averaging 50 to 60 km/h with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS of around 90 km/h are likely to continue along parts of the southern and central ranges this evening, increasing to 100 km/h for elevated peaks. Winds are forecast to temporarily ease later on Friday evening, before strengthening again and shifting southwesterly during Saturday morning, with the risk of DAMAGING WIND GUSTS also extending to parts of the Hunter, Mid North Coast and Northern Tablelands. Winds are forecast to ease below warning thresholds from the south during Saturday afternoon, with conditions easing in the north by Saturday evening.

BLIZZARD conditions are forecast for parts of the Snowy Mountains district above 1200 metres.

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service recommends that back country travel be postponed until conditions improve.

Locations which may be affected include Goulburn, Nowra, Batemans Bay, Scone, Katoomba, Cooma, Moruya Heads, Bowral, Braidwood, Ebor, Nowendoc and Gloucester.

91 km/h gust was recorded at Nowra at 5:23 pm.

91 km/h gust was recorded at Goulburn Airport at 2:35 pm.

96 km/h gust was recorded at Mount Boyce at 12:40 am.

The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
* Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
* Keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.
* Trees that have been damaged by fire are likely to be more unstable and more likely to fall.
* Report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid (131 388), Endeavour Energy (131 003), Essential Energy (132 080) or Evoenergy (131 093) as shown on your power bill.
* Stay vigilant and monitor conditions. Note that the landscape may have changed following bushfires.
* For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 132 500.