Newcastle: Power outages remain as storm clean up begins

Suburbs including Charlestown, Mayfield and Bar Beach remain without power on Tuesday morning.

Lightning struck behind homes at Rutherford. Picture: Facebook/Nicole 'n' Dave Vought.

Thousands of residents across Newcastle woke on Tuesday to find their power remained out.

At 7am, Charlestown, Adamstown Heights, Mayfield and Bar Beach were among suburbs affected.

An Ausgrid spokesman said technicians were working to resolve the issue, with power already restored to suburbs including Raymond Terrace, Stockton and Maryland.

Power outages across Newcastle as of 7am Tuesday. Picture: Ausgrid.

Monday night’s storm arrived earlier than expected, after being forecast to hit in the early hours of Tuesday.

The SES responded to 285 calls for help across the Hunter between 8pm and 9pm.

A tree down across Denney St, Broadmeadow. Picture: Facebook/Carol Pamela.

Residents were evacuated from a Stockton aged care home after its roof flew off for the second time in 15 months, while a man was trapped but uninjured when a tree fell on his Wallsend home.

Police said the storm caused traffic chaos across the region.

“Newcastle city has a number of traffic lights at major intersections and power lines down in some areas,” NSW Police said in a statement.

“The Industrial Dr and Maitland Rd traffic lights are down with some traffic delays and numerous other intersections also affected.

“Please be aware of this and drive to the conditions.”

The roof was blown off a home in Mayfield West. Picture: Facebook/Lucas King.

The storm followed a hot day across Newcastle and the Hunter, with temperatures well into the 30s.

Tuesday is forecast to be cloudy with a 10 per cent chance of rain.

A tree down at Maryland. Picture: Facebook/Matthew Scott.

The storm at Metford. Picture: Facebook/Nicole Nellkym.

The storm at Wangi Wangi. Picture: Facebook/Simon Lee.