NSW weather: storm-force winds forecast as heavy rain and huge waves lash coast
Wild weather is continuing to lash parts of New South Wales and more heavy rain is on the way due to a low-pressure system off the coast.
The Illawarra copped the brunt of it with pelting rain and massive winds whipping up six-metre waves, felling trees, damaging roofs and bringing down power lines in the 24-hours to Wednesday morning.
Around 600 State Emergency Service volunteers fielded 551 calls for help overnight while thousands of homes lost power.
The Bureau of Meteorology forecast gusts of up to 125km/h along the coast and strong surf conditions on Wednesday.
Storm-force wind warnings were issued for the Illawarra coast and Batemans coast and gale-force warnings for the Macquarie coast, Hunter coast, Sydney coast and Eden coast.
Snow was falling in alpine areas and above 1,200 metres in the central tablelands.
Icy roads were causing havoc with several trucks jackknifing on the Great Western Highway at Medlow Bath in the Blue Mountains.
The winds were expected to gradually ease below gale or damaging wind thresholds later on Wednesday.
SES volunteers were helping with the early cleanup of damage caused by fallen trees, and additional volunteers, including flood rescue operators, were on standby in areas expected to be impacted by the severe weather on Wednesday.
Residents were warned not to drive, ride or walk through flood waters.
Endeavour Energy said power had been cut to around 18,000 homes, with emergency crews working through the night to try and restore power in the Illawarra and Shellharbour regions and on the south coast.
Extra crews were being marshalled to assist with the repair efforts, with over 250 hazardous incidents to investigate, Endeavour said.