Wild weather is continuing to lash parts of NSW and more heavy rain is on the way due to a low pressure system off the coast.
The Illawarra has 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 past 24-hours.
Around 600 SES volunteers fielded 551 calls for help overnight while thousands of homes have lost power.
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting gusts of up to 125km/h along the coast and strong surf conditions on Wednesday.
Storm force wind warnings have been issued for the Illawarra Coast and Batemans Coast and gale force warnings for the Macquarie coast, Hunter coast, Sydney coast and Eden coast.
Snow is falling in alpine areas and above 1200 metres in the Central Tablelands.
Icy roads are causing havoc with several trucks jackknifing on the Great Western Highway at Medlow Bath in The Blue Mountains.
The winds are expected to gradually ease below gale or damaging wind thresholds later on Wednesday.
SES volunteers are helping with the early clean-up of damage caused by fallen trees, and additional volunteers, including flood rescue operators, are on standby in areas expected to be impacted by the severe weather on Wednesday.
Residents have been warned not to drive, ride or walk through floodwaters.
Endeavour Energy says power has 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 are being marshalled to assist with the repair efforts, with over 250 hazardous incidents to investigate, Endeavour says.
Australian Associated Press
