Sydneysiders will need to hold onto their jackets at Saturday morning sport after a cold front crossed the state on Friday night bringing vigorous winds to eastern NSW.

The Bureau of Meteorology's severe weather warning for damaging winds was extended to include the Sydney metropolitan area on Friday morning after strong gusts hit parts of the state on Thursday.

An early morning surf check at North Cronulla on Friday before strong winds are predicted to cause big seas over the weekend. Credit:John Veage

On Saturday morning, the Bureau predicted westerly winds rising to 50 km/h on Saturday morning, and winds averaging 25 to 50 km/h for the rest of the day.

The forecast reflected a more mild outcome than earlier thought. The Bureau on Friday had thought that winds reaching over 90 km/h could strike Sydney.