The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has responded to 591 incidents in the 24 hours to 2:00 pm Friday, mostly in Dubbo and Sydney's Northern Beaches where strong winds brought down trees and caused damage to homes and infrastructure.
In Dubbo, wind gusts reached up to 115 km/h, causing widespread damage across the town, including the collapse of a crane in the CBD during the height of the storm.
Conditions are now shifting, with damaging winds, hazardous surf and coastal erosion possible along the coast from Forster to the Victorian border.
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast wind gusts exceeding 100 km/h, with gusts of up to 110 km/h along coastal areas. The greatest risk is expected on Friday night, with locally destructive winds of up to 120 km/h possible along the Illawarra coast, including around Jervis Bay.
Large and powerful surf is building along the coastline, particularly south of Seal Rocks, with wave heights expected to reach several metres. These conditions may lead to coastal erosion along south facing beaches.
NSW SES crews have been door knocking residents in at-risk coastal erosion locations on the Central Coast, providing advice and preparing communities for potential impacts.
NSW SES State Duty Commander, Assistant Commissioner Dean Storey said communities should be aware of the changing conditions and risks.
"Even though the thunderstorms have passed, this system is now bringing a different set of risks with strong winds and dangerous surf expected right along the coast," Assistant Commissioner Storey said.
"We're asking people to stay indoors during strong winds, keep clear of trees and powerlines, and secure anything around their home that could become airborne.
"If you're near the coast, avoid boating, exposed beaches, rock platforms and ocean pools. Conditions like this mean no one should be in, on or around the open ocean."
Rainfall totals are expected to remain relatively low, with 10 to 40 mm forecast over 24 hours, and no thunderstorms expected tomorrow.
