The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for NSW. The storms are likely to produce large hailstones, heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and damaging winds in the warning area over the next several hours.
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Hail and damaging winds are possible for Sydney later on Wednesday as thunderstorms develop in the city's west.
The Bureau of Meteorology expects the thunderstorms to be most likely in western Sydney, possibly extending to Parramatta and beyond.
The bureau issued a severe thunderstorm warming for western parts of Sydney just before 3 pm, noting radar detection of storms near Cranebrook, Erskine Park, Londonderry and St Marys. The storms are moving eastwards.
Thunderstorms are currently moving across the west of Sydney, heading towards the coast. They are expected to hit Cranebrook, Erskine Park, Londonderry and St Marys shortly.
They are forecast to affect Richmond, Windsor, Badgerys Creek and Riverstone by 3:10 pm and Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Horsley Park and Toongabbie by 3:25 pm.
If you are in these areas, the State Emergency Service advises that people should:
- Move your car under cover or away from trees.
- Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
- Keep clear of fallen power lines.
- Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
- Don't walk, ride your bike or drive through flood water.
- If you are trapped by flash flooding, seek refuge in the highest available place and ring 000 if you need rescue.
- Unplug computers and appliances.
- Avoid using the phone during the storm.
- Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.
- For emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES (NSW and ACT) on 132 500.
If you happen to capture any great storm pictures shoot them across to us via twitter @smh or scoop@smh.com.au
So much for cancelling the extreme weather in Sydney, out west Canley Heights its bucketing #2gb873 @2GB873 pic.twitter.com/0uZYq8iU4r — Wedding Soul Story (@soulstorystudio) November 5, 2014
"Large hailstones, heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and damaging winds are likely," said a statement from the Bureau of Meteorology.
Hailstones are reportedly already hitting residents in Windsor.
Listener tells @BenFordham hail the size of 20 cent pieces is hitting Windsor #sydneystorm — Sydney Live (@SydneyLive2GB) November 5, 2014
For residents in Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Horsley Park and Toongabbie they are expected to hit in 10 minutes.
At 3.29pm, the Bureau of Meteorology issued a new Detailed Severe Thunderstorm Warning for large hailstones, heavy rainfall and damaging wind for people in parts of the:
- Maitland/Cessnock,
- Greater Newcastle,
- Sydney and
- Gosford/Wyong areas.
A more general severe thunderstorm warning is also current for the Mid North Coast, Hunter, Metropolitan, Illawarra, Central Tablelands, North West Slopes and Plains and parts of the Northern Rivers, Central West Slopes and Plains, Upper Western and Northern Tablelands districts.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned people to stay inside if possible, as winds of up to 90 kilometers an hour head towards the city.
Wind gusts have already been recorded at 76 kilometers an hour at Richmond.
"There is an ongoing risk for the rest of the evening, keep looking out for warnings and watching the radar" said meteorologist, Derryn Griffiths.
"It's going to be pretty nasty conditions."
She said the risk of hail moving from the west towards the coast was still apparent.
#SydneyStorm strikes again! pic.twitter.com/Bsb0OxUasM — Zack Jones (@zackisthe) November 5, 2014
Photo by SMH photographer Nick Moir.
For residents in Terrey Hills, Boolaroo and Warners Bay, large hailstones, heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and damaging winds are about to hit according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Mona Vale, Charlestown, West Wallsend and Cardiff are expected to experience similar conditions by 3:55 pm.
This -> #sydneystorm. Coincidence? You decide pic.twitter.com/dnVVJw3RwL — Amy Coopes (@coopesdetat) November 5, 2014
A lightning strike has taken out train signals at Granville, this will affect all train commuters on the T1 western line. Allow extra time warns Sydney Trains.
Continue to allow extra travel time on #WesternLine due to lightning strikes affecting signals at Granville. — T1 Sydney Trains (@T1SydneyTrains) November 5, 2014
RAW VISION: hail stones batter the road near Riverstone in Sydney's west just after 3pm as a massive front descends on the city.
A woman has been struck by lightning at Oran Park drive, Oran Park.
It is understood she was crossing a pedestrian crossing outside a school when the lightning struck her umbrella.
She is believed to have suffered mild burns. NSW ambulance services are on their way to treat the patient.
Wind gusts across Sydney are continually breaching 50 kilometers an hour.
76 kilometers an hour was recorded at Badgerys creek
69 kilometers an hour at Mount Boyce
61 kilometers an hour was recorded at Sydney airport.
There are also reports that 115 kilometer an hour wind gust has snapped telegraph poles at Kurnell.
115km/he wind gusts snap power pole at #Kurnell @7NewsSydney pic.twitter.com/TP3LwnT88N — Amanda Abate (@AmandaAbate) October 14, 2014
Amazing photos from some of our Herald readers. Here is one from Lachlan Ede in Baulkham Hills.
What a ripper. Stay safe Lachlan.
Photo by SMH photographer Nick Moir.
Lighting strikes have been reported across the city. This shot was taken by Ryan Hutchings at Barden Ridge, looking towards Engadine.
Storms have caused some disruption on parts of the #SydneyTrains network. Please listen to announcements and monitor Tweets. — T2 Sydney Trains (@T2SydneyTrains) November 5, 2014
Heavy rain is coming down across Sydney.
22 mm has been recorded at Badgerys Creek and 27 mm at Horsley Park.
Penrith has had the highest recorded rainfall across Sydney with 30mm recorded to 4:30 pm.
Still sitting on board...waiting. #sydneystorm puts the airport on hold #iwanttogohome pic.twitter.com/SrIdib8sdw — Brittney Kleyn (@brittneykleyn) November 5, 2014
The Bureau of Meteorology has said that the immediate threat of thunderstorms to the Sydney metropolitan area has now passed.
"The situation will continue to be monitored and further warnings will be issued if necessary."
1:49pm A gust of 106 km/h was recorded at Moss Vale at 1:49pm.
3:50pm Hail of 10c-piece size in Penrith.
3:50pm Hail of 20c-piece size Edgeworth
The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* Keep clear of fallen power lines.
* Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
* Don't walk, ride your bike or drive through flood water.
* For emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES (NSW and ACT) on 132 500.
Travelers at Sydney Airport have been frustrated by delays caused by the storm.
With the worst of it now passing lets hope those flights can get off the ground.
Stupid #sydneystorm just delayed my flight to Perth. Much grumbling at Syd Airport, remains closed for time being. pic.twitter.com/SfVhRXbETE — Flip Prior (@FlipPrior) November 5, 2014
A GIF sent by one of our readers Alan Klein of lightning striking Sydney Tower.
The NSW SES has now responded to over 70 calls for help, with the majority of calls coming from the Penrith and Mt Druitt area.
Here are some tips from the NSW SES on some of the things you can do during a storm to protect your family:
Never enter or travel through floodwater
Stay indoors, clear of windows
Stay clear of creeks, drains, causeways, gutters, streams, fallen trees, power lines and damaged buildings
If driving, put your hazard lights on and pull over to the side of the road keeping clear of drains, causeways, streams, creeks, trees and power lines
If outdoors, seek secure shelter away from drains, causeways, streams, creeks, trees and power lines
Listen to your local radio station and other media for information, updates and advice
For emergency assistance in floods and storms, call the NSW SES on 132 500
Endeavour Energy reports 17,000 customers in the Greater Western Sydney region are currently without power due to the electrical storm that hit the region at approximately 3pm.
Power has been cut to over 9,000 in south western Sydney in suburbs such as Minto, Eagle Vale, Fairfield, Prestons and Moorebank.
Approximately 7,800 customers in western Sydney are without power in Wentworthville, Toongabbie, Emu Plains, Richbond and Kenthurst.
Storm , rain, lightning in st Mary's @Sandra_Sully @smh @WeathermanABC @thedruitt @PenrithPress @wz_sydney @Channel7 pic.twitter.com/ILykbtET8A — candy (@sweetcandie43) November 5, 2014
Here's another photo of the lightning sent by one of our readers Reaz Ahamed. Email us your pictures and videos at scoop@smh.com.au
Sydney Tower takes a lightning strike. Photo by Herald reader Jamie Millar.
Continue to allow extra travel time on #WesternLine due to lightning strikes affecting signal equipment at Granville earlier — T1 Sydney Trains (@T1SydneyTrains) November 5, 2014
Ausgrid reports power is back to majority of homes in Wallsend and Elermore Vale after powerlines came down on Tillie St, during the storm.
Here's another photo of lightning in Sydney. This one's from Serena Elizabeth.
RAW VISION: footage from an office in Sydney's CBD shows the moment a lightning bolt hits Centrepoint Tower.
A cracker of a photo sent in by 13-year-old Rory Thomson. Send us your pics at scoop@smh.com.au
Flights at Sydney airport have now returned to normal after some delays, much to the relief of travelers.
And the #SydneyStorm has passed! All tarmac activity has just recommenced at the airport woo hoo @champy — Flip Prior (@FlipPrior) November 5, 2014
Endeavour Energy emergency crews have restored power to nearly 7000 customers without power after this afternoon’s electrical storm.
In suburbs around Campbelltown, Liverpool and Moorebank, work is continuing to return power to about 5,500 homes and businesses.
4,700 customers are still to be restored in the area between Wentworthville and Merrylands, as well as parts of Penrith, Richmond and the areas north of Windsor up to Kenthurst.
While the major storm warnings for Sydney have now passed, the Bureau of Meteorology has kept a more general severe thunderstorm warning in place for the Mid North Coast, Hunter, Metropolitan, Illawarra, Central Tablelands, North West Slopes and Plains and parts of the Northern Rivers, Central West Slopes and Plains, Upper Western and Northern Tablelands districts.
The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* Keep clear of fallen power lines.
* Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
* Don't walk, ride your bike or drive through flood water.
* For emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES (NSW and ACT) on 132 500.
RAW VISION: a compilation of footage shows the wild weather ravaging Sydney, from hail in the west to lightning strikes in the the CBD.
The worst of the storm has now passed.
The ominous cells that lashed hail, rain, and winds across western NSW and through metropolitan Sydney are now making their way out to sea.
On that note, we will be wrapping up our live blog.
Feel free to keep sending us your pictures, thoughts or reports via twitter @smh or to scoop@smh.com.au.
Thanks for joining us!
Hail, wind, lightning and thunderstorms thrashed Sydney's suburbs during peak hour http://t.co/dVOQRGuwZs pic.twitter.com/DqWI7aGdnR — smh.com.au (@smh) November 5, 2014