Forecast

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
New South Wales

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Severe Weather Warning
for Damaging Winds

for South Coast, Snowy Mountains, Australian Capital Territory and parts of Metropolitan, Illawarra, Southern Tablelands and South West Slopes Forecast Districts.

Issued at 11:06 pm Thursday, 26 March 2026.

Damaging winds and possible blizzard conditions developing over southeastern NSW including the ACT on Friday.

Weather Situation
A vigorous coastal low will develop offshore of the southern NSW coast on Friday, bringing damaging southerly winds to parts of southeastern NSW including the ACT and the Sydney coast. Possible blizzard conditions are possible in alpine areas above 1500 metres. Conditions will begin to ease later on Friday and into early Saturday as the low moves further offshore.
DAMAGING WINDS for the following areas:
Metropolitan, Illawarra, South Coast, Southern Tablelands, South West Slopes, Snowy Mountains and Australian Capital Territory
DAMAGING SOUTHERLY WIND GUSTS with peak gusts of around 100 km/h are likely to develop over parts of the Snowy Mountains and South Coast from Friday morning, before spreading northwards into the remainder of the warning area on Friday afternoon. Wind gusts along the coastal fringe of the South Coast and Illawarra may reach 110 km/h during Friday afternoon.
DAMAGING WINDS averaging 80 to 90 km/h are possible over the alpine areas above 1900 m on Friday morning and afternoon.
BLIZZARD conditions are forecast over alpine areas above 1500 metres during Friday morning and early afternoon.
Conditions are expected to ease below warning thresholds throughout by late Friday evening or early Saturday morning.
A separate Coastal Hazard Warning for DAMAGING SURF is current. See https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts for details.
Locations which may be affected include parts of the Sydney coast, Wollongong, Nowra, Batemans Bay, Eden, Cooma and Bega.

The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* Park your car under secure cover and away from trees, powerlines and drains.
* 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.
* 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.
For emergency help in flood and storms, ring the SES on 132 500.
Stay updated on the Hazards Near Me NSW app or the ACT ESA website (https://esa.act.gov.au).

The next Severe Weather Warning will be issued by 5:00 am AEDT Friday.
Check https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts. Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts or call 1300 659 210. The Bureau and State Emergency Service would appreciate warnings being broadcast regularly.

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
New South Wales

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Severe Weather Warning
for Damaging Winds

for South Coast, Snowy Mountains, Australian Capital Territory and parts of Metropolitan, Illawarra, Southern Tablelands and South West Slopes Forecast Districts.

Issued at 11:06 pm Thursday, 26 March 2026.

Damaging winds and possible blizzard conditions developing over southeastern NSW including the ACT on Friday.

Weather Situation
A vigorous coastal low will develop offshore of the southern NSW coast on Friday, bringing damaging southerly winds to parts of southeastern NSW including the ACT and the Sydney coast. Possible blizzard conditions are possible in alpine areas above 1500 metres. Conditions will begin to ease later on Friday and into early Saturday as the low moves further offshore.
DAMAGING WINDS for the following areas:
Metropolitan, Illawarra, South Coast, Southern Tablelands, South West Slopes, Snowy Mountains and Australian Capital Territory
DAMAGING SOUTHERLY WIND GUSTS with peak gusts of around 100 km/h are likely to develop over parts of the Snowy Mountains and South Coast from Friday morning, before spreading northwards into the remainder of the warning area on Friday afternoon. Wind gusts along the coastal fringe of the South Coast and Illawarra may reach 110 km/h during Friday afternoon.
DAMAGING WINDS averaging 80 to 90 km/h are possible over the alpine areas above 1900 m on Friday morning and afternoon.
BLIZZARD conditions are forecast over alpine areas above 1500 metres during Friday morning and early afternoon.
Conditions are expected to ease below warning thresholds throughout by late Friday evening or early Saturday morning.
A separate Coastal Hazard Warning for DAMAGING SURF is current. See https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts for details.
Locations which may be affected include parts of the Sydney coast, Wollongong, Nowra, Batemans Bay, Eden, Cooma and Bega.

The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* Park your car under secure cover and away from trees, powerlines and drains.
* 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.
* 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.
For emergency help in flood and storms, ring the SES on 132 500.
Stay updated on the Hazards Near Me NSW app or the ACT ESA website (https://esa.act.gov.au).

The next Severe Weather Warning will be issued by 5:00 am AEDT Friday.
Check https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts. Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts or call 1300 659 210. The Bureau and State Emergency Service would appreciate warnings being broadcast regularly.

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
New South Wales

Warning to Sheep Graziers

for Hunter, Northern Tablelands, Illawarra, South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, Central West Slopes & Plains, South West Slopes, Riverina, Upper Western, Lower Western, Snowy Mountains and Australian Capital Territory forecast districts

Issued at 10:36 PM EDT on Thursday 26 March 2026

Warning to Sheep Graziers for the following areas:
Hunter, Northern Tablelands, Illawarra, South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, Central West Slopes & Plains, South West Slopes, Riverina, Upper Western, Lower Western, Snowy Mountains and Australian Capital Territory forecast districts
Sheep graziers are warned that cold temperatures, rain and showers, and southerly winds are expected during Thursday night and Friday. Areas likely to be affected include the Illawarra, South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, Central West Slopes & Plains, South West Slopes, Riverina, Lower Western, Snowy Mountains and Australian Capital Territory forecast districts and parts of the Hunter, Northern Tablelands and Upper Western forecast districts. There is a risk of losses of lambs and sheep exposed to these conditions.

The next warning will be issued by 5:00 am EDT Friday.