Severe thunderstorms hit Sydney

Power has been restored to 17,500 homes and business across Sydney’s North and Lower North Shore after severe storms on Wednesday afternoon.

• Warning as dust storm moves across Central Coast

Power has been restored to 17,500 homes and business across Sydney’s North and Lower North Shore after severe storms on Wednesday afternoon.

The outage was caused by a direct lightning strike on overhead powerlines.

Power supply was interrupted to parts of Gladesville, Hunters Hill, Lane Cove, Ryde, Lane Cove West, Putney, Riverview, Tennyson Point, East Ryde, Huntleys Cove and Woolwich just after 3pm and power was restored to all customers by 5:45pm.

Trees were also downed in Gordon, causing traffic chaos as commuters began to head home.

Storms were expected to produce damaging winds into the evening.

Areas expected to be hit include Sydney, Newcastle, Gosford, Katoomba, Tamworth and Gunnedah.

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Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Stephen Stefanac said the front was making its way to the Central Coast after smashing Sydney.

“The main line of storms has gone through Sydney, there’s only a slight chance of more in Sydney this evening, now the storm centre is heading towards the Central Coast and Newcastle,” he said.

“There is still the potential for severe storms, but as of this afternoon at 3.45pm there’s no cells on the radar which stand out, but there’s a potential we could see more severe storm development as the evening goes on. By evening, the storms should have cleared on the Central Coast, but for the next two or three hours there is a potential which will closely monitor.

Storm clouds moving in over Sydney. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“The main thing we’re concerned about is damaging winds and possibly hail too, but not large hail, less than 2cm diameter at this stage.”

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for the Sydney metropolitan, Central Tablelands and parts of the Hunter and Illawarra regions.

While some insurance companies have sent out hail warning texts, meteorologist Chris Ryan said they were not issuing hail warnings at this stage.

The change will bring temperatures down as much as 12C overnight after a warm day which saw Penrith reach 38.4C.

Thunderstorms have hit Sydney this afternoon. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“It will certainly provide relief to some people who’ve been suffering out there,” Mr Ryan said.

There is also a warning for possible dust haze as winds shift south. An Air Quality Forecast alert of “Poor” for the Sydney Region has been issued today as particle levels are forecast to exceed national air quality standards.

The State Emergency Service advises due to damaging winds, people should move cars under cover or away from trees. For assistance, phone the SES on 132 500.