Australia Weather News

Sydney will experience a sharp drop in temperatures from tonight. - ABC

A fast-moving storm has hit Sydney and the Illawarra region, with winds hitting more than 100 kilometres per hour.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said the winds brought down trees and power lines, affecting train services and major roads, especially in the Blue Mountains and southern Sydney.

A tree on the train line at Como in southern Sydney has been removed, but delays are continuing.

NSW State Emergency Service's Emma Delaney said Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains were the worst-affected areas.

"We have received approximately 220 requests for assistance this evening, most of those related to tree downs and roof damage," she said.

Endeavour Energy said power was out to 17,000 customers across Western Sydney after fallen trees and power lines caused 130 electrical hazards across the region.

The temperature at Sydney Airport at 6:50pm was 12 degrees Celsius but felt like 5C, while Katoomba was 10C and felt like 1C.

The BOM urged people in Sydney and the Illawarra to take care as heavy winds blasted across the areas.

Camden recorded wind gusts at 115kph, while Fort Denison recorded 106kph, Kurnell 104kph and Sydney Airport 100kph.

Wind speeds of 104kph were recorded in the Blue Mountains.

The Bureau of Meteorology's Agata Imielska said the cold was expected to persist into tomorrow despite sunny conditions.

"Through tonight as that cold front moves through we are likely to see those temperatures actually feeling 10 degrees cooler than what is forecast," Ms Imielska said.

"In Sydney tomorrow we will wake up to some deceptively sunny conditions, but it will be quite windy and quite cool so it’s important to rug up and be prepared for those wintry conditions.

"We are expecting a top of 19 degrees, but it will actually feel more like eight or nine degrees."

Simultaneous snowfall and total fire bans

Showers and small hail are possible for Canberra tomorrow as well as some snowfall in the high ranges down to 700 metres above sea level.

There was already some snowfall in the Alpine regions and about 20-40 centimetres is expected, while Oberon, Orange could see several centimetres.

Meanwhile, much of the far north coast of NSW was today placed under a total fire ban.

Ms Imielska said that high temperatures and the approaching dry winds created dangerous fire conditions.

"Overnight temperatures will cool off, but it will still be quite windy and quite dry, so those heightened fire dangers will continue through the weekend," she said.

Ms Imielska said it was a common spring pattern in NSW to have snow in some parts of the state while other parts sweltered.

Temperatures are expected to rise next week in NSW while frosty conditions are set to persist for a few days in Canberra.

With school holidays underway from Friday afternoon, Ms Imielska urged motorists to take care on icy roads this weekend.

ABC