Plane, home hit as storms batter Sydney and the NSW Hunter

A woman has copped an infringement notice after driving into floodwaters in Sydney’s west, endangering herself and her two little boys.

A woman has been issued with an infringement notice after she drove into floodwaters in Sydney’s west and became stuck, endangering herself and the two little boys who were in her car.

Police were called to Grange Avenue, Schofields, on Wednesday night after the 61-year-old’s vehicle, carrying two boys aged 5 and 9, became trapped in floodwaters after she tried to cross a bridge.

The metre-deep water prevented her car from moving. Officers towed her car to safety and then issued her with the Traffic Infringement Notice. Hawkesbury Police Area Command’s Inspector Garry Sims says motorists must use caution during and after wet weather.

“You can never truly tell how deep floodwaters are and it’s not worth the risk trying to drive through them,” Inspector Sims said.

“If there is heavy rain ahead, or the roadway is flooded, pull over in a safe place and wait for the floodwater to recede or find another way to your destination.”

Sydney Storm. Weather forecast by BOM

Lightning strikes over Sydney. Picture: Ben Pratt/Twitter

Sydney has been battered by heavy rain, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning on Wednesday night that the state’s north coast and west to Walgett should brace for large hailstones, heavy rainfall and damaging winds.

About 1000 homes lost power around Hornsby in northern Sydney and a further 500 homes in Dural were also affected.

Ausgrid said crews were working to restore power.

Dust was also whipped up by thunderstorms at Dubbo earlier in the afternoon. Coffs Harbour, Gosford, Sydney, Armidale, Tamworth and Narrabri were expected to be worst hit by the storms.

Scone, in the upper Hunter, recorded 36mm of rain in half an hour on Wednesday night and winds up to 114 km/h were recorded at Merriwa.

A traveller said on Twitter their plane had been struck on approach to Sydney.

Our plane got hit by lightning on approach to Sydney just then, much louder than what i would have imagined! #weather #sydney

— Nicolas Rakotopare (@le_rako) December 19, 2018

So boyfriend saw ‘bolt from the blue’ lightning while flying back home tonight! Gotta love those #SydneyStorm ⛈⚡️🛩⛈

— Cathy! 🐚 (@CathyFrangipani) December 19, 2018

NSW Fire and Rescue told The Daily Telegraph a house on Tulipwood Drive, Colyton was struck by lightning during the storm.

About 1000 homes lost power around Hornsby in northern Sydney and a further 500 homes in Dural were also affected.

An electrical storm has hit Sydney on Wednesday night and flights from Sydney Airport have been suspended after an incoming flight was reportedly hit by lightning.

Ausgrid said crews were working to restore power.

Dust was also whipped up by thunderstorms at Dubbo earlier in the afternoon.

Got this little beauty earlier tonight #SydneyStorm #Sydney #thunderstorm #lightning#thunderbolt pic.twitter.com/CLmdZAwWMS

— Jamie Toomey (@jamietoomeyabc) December 19, 2018