Almost a year ago Blue Mountains residents were battling devastating bushfires. Now they're waking up to snow and the aftermath of a wild storm.
Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill described the storm that ripped through the area on Tuesday night as "fast and ferocious".
Cr Greenhill was at a council meeting when the storm hit.
"(It) was absolutely wicked. It was brutal," he said.
"The lightening and thunder was quite extraordinary.
"The temperature absolutely plummeted, down to about 3.5 degrees."
Up to 15cm of snow was recorded in parts of the Blue Mountains, with photos on social media showing children making snow angels.
But many residents woke on Wednesday to find their homes had been damaged by the powerful winds.
Cr Greenhill said part of his carport had collapsed on his car.
"I'm sure there are other residents across the mountains who might come out this morning to find damage," he told AAP.
He noted that a year ago on Friday bushfires destroyed more than 200 homes in Winmalee.
"The contrast between the weather now and the weather this time last year is quite stark," he said.
The community sits on a 100km ridge top with two massive bush valleys either side, he said, which means residents face extreme weather conditions.
"We are a community of weather extremes - we confront the extremes of storm and the extremes of bushfire."
"We feel climate change more in the Blue Mountains than perhaps in the Sydney region, and last night was absolute testament to that."
Trains in the area have been affected with lines partially closed between Lithgow and Katoomba.
On the roads, the Great Western Highway and Bells Line of Road are closed due to flooding, snow and ice.
Residents have been told there will significant delays before power is restored, as emergency crews have been hampered by the extensive road closures.
Nearly 14,800 customers in the area are without power.
The Great Western Highway later reopened in both directions between Lithgow and Katoomba, the Transport Management Centre said.
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