Woman killed as strong winds fell trees, cut power, delay flights in Sydney and across NSW
A woman has died as Sydney and other parts of NSW are being smashed by winds of up to 110km/h, which have caused power outages and have sparked hundreds of calls for help.
The woman was killed when a tree fell and hit her caravan in Moama.
A woman was also trapped by a fallen tree at Camden in Sydney's south-west.
The strong winds mean 21,000 homes and businesses in the Southern Highlands, Shoalhaven, Illawarra, and Blue Mountains are without power Endeavour Energy said.
Asgrid said emergency crews responded to about 300 hazards and 8700 customers lost power at the peak.
Around 3300 remain without electricity.
Some flights are being delayed at Sydney Airport and a grass fire has started close to a major motorway.
READ MORE: Woman dead after tree falls on cabin near NSW-Victoria border
A woman was rescued in Camden, south west Sydney, after a tree fell on her car. Nine
A Sydney Airport spokesperson told passengers to check with their airline before travelling.
"Due to high winds Airservices Australia are operating our east-west runway, which may cause some delays throughout the day," the spokesperson said.
Trains are not running between Epping and Hornsby on the T9 Northern Line and the Central Coast and Newcastle Line due to a tree in the overhead wiring at Normanhurst.
The SES said volunteers had been called to about 750 incidents across the state over the past day.
A tree fell onto a house in Kingsgrove, Sydney Nine
Chief Superintendent Dallas Burnes said the wind was "out of the ordinary, but not unheard of".
He said most jobs they were called to were due to fallen trees.
"We've seen roadways blocked, power lines disrupted and a lot of incidents to property where branches have either broken through roofs or hit windows and damaged property and cars," he said.
NSW RFS and FRNSW respond to a grass fire started by downed power lines on Yarramundi Lane in Agnes Banks. Sydney Morning Herald
Burnes said there had been a gust of 109km/h at Cabramurra in the Snowy Mountains, while average wind speeds have been 70km/h.
He urged residents to consider what they were doing.
"It may be a day to go get the kids from school in the car, rather than walking," he said.
While winds would die down, ongoing gusts would continue to cause hazards such as falling trees, he said.
"We'll still be responding to jobs into the weekend," he said.
Flights are being delayed at Sydney Airport due to winds. Nine
Meanwhile, NSW SES volunteers will also be sent to Victoria to help with the clean-up there.
Earlier, the SES told residents to trim tree branches and secure any loose structures around homes such as outdoor furniture and trampolines.
A severe weather warning remains current with wind gusts in excess of 110km/h continuing in the Illawarra, South Coast, Southern Tablelands, Snowy Mountains, Mid North Coast, Central Tablelands, Metropolitan Sydney and Hunter.
Meanwhile warm weather and the winds mean a total fire ban was announced for Greater Sydney and the Illawarra.
Wild weather is also smashing Victoria and Tasmania.
More windy weather is forecast for Friday.
People take in the late afternoon sun and swim at Marrinawi Cove at the weekend. Getty
Australia meanwhile, recorded its highest winter temperature since records began last week.
Last week multiple grass fires broke out in Sydney's south-west.
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