Traffic queues of up to 30km as icy roads make travel treacherous

There have been more than 20 vehicle collisions on icy roads since 5am today, prompting a warning from NSW Ambulance.

The heavy snowfalls and freezing weather in areas of the state have had a significant effect on traffic, with queues of up to 30km on the Hume Highway south of Sydney.

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Ambulance NSW western Sydney and Nepean Blue Mountains sector Chief Superintendent Simmone Locke urged people to take extra care on the roads.

"Snow, ice, strong winds, and heavy rain are making for treacherous conditions for NSW Ambulance paramedics to respond to patients today," Supt Locke said.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast winds of up to 90km/hr along the NSW coast today.

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Falls of up to 20cm of snow in some parts of NSW have seen the Blue Mountains experience one of its heaviest recorded snowfalls in recent history.

Both the Great Western Highway and Bells Line of Road have been closed in places, leaving no way for motorists to travel between Sydney and Lithgow.

The train line between Lithgow and Mount Victoria is also closed.

The Great Western Highway is closed in both directions between Marrangaroo and Bathurst.

The Mid Western Highway is fully closed between Cowra and Blayeney.

Authorities have advised motorists in the south and west of NSW to delay all non-essential travel.

The Bureau of Meteorology says snow falls in Bowral, Mittagong and Katoomba in the Blue Mountains are expected to stop by the end of the day.

"The system that's causing it, the low that's sitting off the Illawarra coast, will move east," a spokesman said.

"By tonight there will be no further snow falls outside of the ranges."

The spokesman said there was no snow predicted for the rest of the week.

However, strong winds of up to 90km/hr are forecast along the Sydney, Illawarra and Hunter coastlines.

Meanwhile, residents in Queensland's south have also woken up to snowfall this morning.

Snow has fallen on Stanthorpe near the NSW border, with locals getting out to make the most of the wintry conditions.

More snow is forecast to fall as low as just 600m above sea level today.

For information about NSW road closures visit livetraffic.com