Severe thunderstorms smash Australia’s east coast leaving one man dead and shutting down Sydney Airport – as 100,000 homes without power amid urgent warning over dangerous winds, lightning and hailstones
A man has been killed as severe thunderstorms smashed large swathes of NSW and Sydney, bringing the airport, public transport and sporting matches to an abrupt halt.
An unstable airmass combined with an upper trough produced wild weather across large parts of the state late Wednesday
Damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall smashed not only Sydney but also the Hunter, the Mid North Coast, Illawarra, Central Tablelands, North West Slopes and Plains and Northern Tablelands districts.
Wind gusts exceeding 100km/h have so far been reported in Sydney Airport, Kurnell, Scone, Murrurindi Gap, Tamworth, Merriwa, Dubbo, Mullion, Bombala, Trangie, Cowra, Walgett, Cabrumurra and Wagga Wagga.
More than 120,000 homes across Sydney were left without power.
Earlier on Wednesday afternoon, a man aged in his 80s was killed after a tree struck his car while driving through the wild weather along Lachlan Valley Way in Cowra in central-west NSW.
Sydney Airport has temporarily grounded all flights. It’s not known when they will resume.
Arriving flights have diverted to other airports and departing aircraft have returned to their gates.
Power outrages also brought light rail services to a halt between Town Hall and Circular Quay due to a power outage.
Stranded commuters were advised to walk or use alternative transport.
A severe thunderstorm smashed Sydney around 8pm on Wednesday. Pictured are the impacted areas
Severe lightning and thunderstorm caused the round nine A-League Women’s match between Sydney FC and Canberra United
Multiple train stations are also without power after a day of rail chaos, including Lidcombe, Cabramatta and Flemington.
T9 services have been suspended between Epping and Hornsby after a tree fell onto wiring at Normanhurst.
The A-League women’s game between Sydney FC and Canberra United at Leichhardt Oval was suspended mid-match and was abandoned shortly afterwards.
The Sky Blues were leading 2-0 at the time.
Impacted areas are also at risk of flash flooding, the Bureau of Meteorology warned.
More than 120,000 homes across Sydney were without power after lighting strikes
Areas most likely to experience flooding include Newcastle, Gosford, Sydney, Parramatta, Armidale and Tamworth.
Sydneysiders took to social media to describe the chaos as ‘never seen anything like this’ in the city.
One woman recorded a video of rain flying sideways as it battled the strong winds in the city’s outer suburbs.
Another filmed the storm’s front as lightning could be seen illuminating the sky over and over.
‘I can’t think of the last time I saw a storm like this. The lightning is insane,’ he wrote.
‘Did anyone order an apocalypse,’ another man asked.
One woman recommended anyone who might have been driving at the time the storm hit to pull over onto the side of the road in order to stay safe.
The NSW SES received almost 950 calls for assistance up until 9pm Wednesday.
The worst area hit was Wagga Wagga in the NSW Riverina with 186 jobs.
The A-League match between Sydney FC and Canberra was eventually abandoned
Damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall smashed not only Sydney but also the Hunter, the Mid North Coast, Illawarra, Central Tablelands, North West Slopes and Plains and Northern Tablelands
Sydney
Thursday: Showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. Up to 8mm of rain. Winds up to 40km/h. Min 19C Max 26C.
Friday: Showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. Up to 9mm of rain. Winds up to 55km/h. Min 18C Max 24C.
Saturday: Showers. Up to 10mm of rain. Winds up to 40km/h. Min 18C Max 25C.
Melbourne
Thursday: Shower or two. Chance of a thunderstorm. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 23C Max 37C.
Friday: Possible shower. Chance of a thunderstorm. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 21C Max 31C.
Saturday: Possible shower. Winds up to 25km/h. Min21C Max 31C.
Brisbane
Thursday: Shower or two. Chance of a thunderstorm. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 23C Max 37C.
Friday: Possible shower. Chance of a thunderstorm. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 21C Max 31C.
Saturday: Possible shower. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 21C Max 31C.
Canberra
Thursday: Possible shower. Chance of a thunderstorm. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 13C Max 25C.
Friday: Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower. Winds up to 30km/h. Min 10C Max 24C.
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Min 11C Max 22C.
Adelaide
Thursday: Cloudy. Winds up to 30km/h. Min 15C Max 25C.
Friday: Mostly sunny. Winds up to 30km/h. Min 17C Max 30C.
Saturday: Sunny. Winds up to 20km/h. Min 17C Max 32C.
Hobart
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 15C Max 22C.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 15C Max 20C.
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 13C Max 20C.
Perth
Thursday: Sunny. Winds up to 35km/h. Min 19C Max 40C.
Friday: Shower or two. Chance of a thunderstorm. Up to 5mm of rain. Winds up to 35km/h. Min 22C Max 30C.
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds up to 30km/h. Min 17C Max 26C.
Darwin
Thursday: Showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. Up to 35mm of rain. Winds up to 20km/h. Min 25C Max 32C.
Friday: Showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. Up to 35mm of rain. Winds up to 20km/h. Min 25C Max 32C.
Saturday: Showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. Up to 30mm of rain. Winds up to 20km/h. Min 25C Max 32C.
