Severe Weather Warning (Damaging Winds) Snowy Mountains & Illawarra, South Coast, Central Tablelands, S Tablelands, ACT & South West Slopes
27 AUGUST 2025 04:54 EST
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
New South Wales
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST
Severe Weather Warning
for Damaging Winds
for Snowy Mountains and parts of Illawarra, South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, Australian Capital Territory and South West Slopes Forecast Districts.
Issued at 4:54 am Wednesday, 27 August 2025.
Damaging winds with blizzard conditions developing over parts of the southeast on Wednesday.
Weather Situation
A vigorous west to northwesterly airstream will develop over parts of the southeast on Wednesday as a series of cold fronts approach from Victoria, with cold enough conditions for blizzards to develop over alpine areas.
DAMAGING WINDS for the following areas:
Illawarra, South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, South West Slopes, Snowy Mountains and Australian Capital Territory
For ALPINE AREAS above 1900 metres:
DAMAGING NORTHWESTERLY WINDS averaging 80 to 90 km/h are expected to increase early on Wednesday morning as the winds shift westerly.
For SOUTH EASTERN AREAS below 1900 metres:
Westerly winds averaging 50 to 60 km/h with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS of around 100 km/h are likely about parts of the Snowy Mountains, Southern Tablelands, Australian Capital Territory and South Coast from Wednesday morning. Strong westerly winds averaging 50 to 60 km/h with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS of around 90 km/h will then extend into parts of the Illawarra during Wednesday evening.
For parts of the BLUE MOUNTAINS:
Northwesterly winds averaging 50 to 60 km/h with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS of around 90 km/h are possible from early Wednesday morning. Winds are forecast to ease below warning thresholds by late Wednesday morning.
BLIZZARD conditions are forecast for parts of the Snowy Mountains district above 1600 metres from Wednesday morning, lowering to areas above 1200 metres by Wednesday evening.
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service recommends that back country travel be postponed until conditions improve.
Locations which may be affected include Wollongong, Katoomba, Cooma, Kiama, Mount Ginini, Jindabyne, Thredbo, Perisher, Adaminaby and Nimmitabel.
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.
The next Severe Weather Warning will be issued by 11:00 am AEST Wednesday.
Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts, the Bureau's website at www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 210. The Bureau and State Emergency Service would appreciate warnings being broadcast regularly.
