Homes have been damaged and hundreds of residents and businesses left without power as wild weather lashes parts of NSW’s southeast.
Multiple flights have been cancelled and disrupted at Sydney Airport as severe winds of up to 93km/h were recorded at Australia’s busiest airport on Wednesday morning.
A pop-up message on its website has warned passengers that using only the single runway at the airport “may cause delays”.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today 
“Please check with your airline for flight updates.”
Airservices Australia told 7NEWS.com.au the move to operate a single runway at Sydney Airport was due to strong westerly winds.
“This adheres to our International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) safety regulations for runway usage amid inclement weather,” a spokesperson said.
“This decision is purely weather and safety-related to safeguard the travelling public.”
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning of damaging winds for people in Sydney, Blue Mountains, the Illawarra and Wollongong.
In Bellambi at Wollongong, wind gusts of up to 117km/h were recorded at 9am on Wednesday.
Nowra clocked 106km/h winds, while Port Kembla and Shellharbour recorded over 100km/h.
“A strong cold front crossing the state today will result in damaging winds continuing about the ranges and southeastern coastal areas,” BoM said.
“(It is) extending northwards along the Great Dividing Range and about the Hunter coast today.”
The front is expected to move north towards the Hunter Valley and Newcastle later today, with damaging winds peaking about 90km/h.
Wollongong SES said it has received multiple calls for assistance resulting from damaging wind gusts in the area.
Kiama Municipal Council has suspended bin collections due to weather conditions in the Gainsborough area.
“We will not be collected today,” it said.
“We kindly ask residents to bring bins in overnight and place them back out on the kerb tomorrow morning for collection.”
More to come …
