Emergency services across NSW have had their hands full with hundreds of incidents as high winds spark fires and uproot trees across the state.
Fire crews are working to contain a bushfire south of Taree, which has blocked the Pacific Highway in both directions.
The blaze has been classified as a Watch and Act but there are no immediate threats to homes in the area.
Fire and Rescue NSW say they are dealing with more than 100 smaller bush and grass fires, mostly in western Sydney.
Earlier, motorists were forced to navigate through smoke as a grassfire burned next to the M7 in Hinchinbrook.
"We had over 50 calls to that one fire," a Fire and Rescue spokesman told AAP.
The SES dealt with more than 200 wind-related calls, 100 of which were for within the Sydney metro area.
"It's been quite busy," an SES spokeswoman told AAP.
"Most are to do with trees down and roof damage."
Residents across NSW and the ACT were told to prepare for wild damaging winds on Thursday with a cold front moving across the region.
As of midday winds had hit 96km/h at Sydney's Kurnell, 93/km at Moss Vale and 87km/h at Sydney airport.
Goulburn experienced winds of 102km/h and Wollongong reached a top of 95km/h.
The highest reading in the state was on the south coast at Montague Island, off Narooma, where gusts reached 119km/h.
The spokeswoman added that conditions were forecast to ease over the afternoon but crews expected the calls to continue regardless.
"As people come home from work they might find that a couple of things have been blown around or damaged on their property."
The SES has urged residents to tie down lose outdoor items and move vehicles inside and away from trees.
A total fire ban remains in place through NSW.
Falling trees cut off electricity to about 4000 homes in Sydney shortly after 2pm (AEST).
Ausgrid has started repairs on some of the homes with 700 out of power in Chatswood, 600 in East Killara, 1000 in Lane Cove and 1300 in Rozelle.
Power was returned to homes in parts of Rozelle and Leichhardt about 30 minutes later, Ausgrid said on Twitter.
Staff are continuing work to return power to the other homes.
