A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for large hailstones, heavy rainfall, and damaging winds for people in Central Tablelands, Northern Tablelands and parts of Mid North Coast, Hunter, North West Slopes and Plains and Central West Slopes and Plains forecast districts.
A warning is also in place for the Blue Mountains/Hawkesbury and Wollondilly/Wingecarribee areas.
Weather Situation: Severe thunderstorms 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. Locations which may be affected include Scone, Armidale, Tenterfield, Glen Innes, Inverell, Orange, Mudgee, Bathurst, Katoomba, Tamworth, Gunnedah and Wellington.
The Bureau of Meteorology warns that, at 3:15pm, severe thunderstorms were detected on the weather radar near the Jenolan Caves, the area west of Lake Burragorang and the Oberon district. These thunderstorms are moving towards the east. They are forecast to affect Katoomba, the Blue Mountains southwest of Katoomba and the northwest parts of the Wollondilly Shire by 3:45 pm and Hazelbrook, the Jamison Valley and Lake Burragorang by 4:15pm.
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 at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.
- Report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid on 131 388, or Endeavour Energy on 131 003 or Essential Energy on 132 080, as shown on your power bill.
- 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.
Keep up-to-date with warnings here.