The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds and blizzard conditions for people in the Southern Tablelands, Snowy Mountains, Illawarra, Hunter and Central Tablelands forecast districts.

A strong cold front is crossing western New South Wales and it will move through the southeast this afternoon, then through the central ranges and central part of coast in the evening.

Damaging winds averaging around 60 km/h with gusts of 100 km/h are forecast for higher parts of the Snowy Mountains forecast district, above approximately 1500 metres. Alpine Peaks experience winds above 80 km/h with peak gusts of 125 km/h. Localised damaging winds averaging 60 to 65 km/h with gusts of 90 km/h are possible for the Hunter, Illawarra, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, and the Snowy Mountains forecast districts.

Blizzard conditions are forecast to develop this morning in areas above about 1500 metres in the Snowy Mountains, then extend to lower levels during the day.

Thredbo AWS reported average wind speed 100 km/h with gust 124 km/h at 2:44 am this morning.

The State Emergency Service advises that people should:

For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 132 500.