Storm hits Sydney after scorching day of hot weather

IT went from a beautiful, hot spring day to a dark and furious storm in a matter of minutes. The latest on Sydney’s weird weather.

Weather photo from McKenzie's Bay near Tamarama. Temperatures soar as a large cloud moves in from the northwest.

‘WELL, that happened quickly!’

That’s the feeling around NSW this afternoon after a beautiful, hot spring day turned into a storm for the ages.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned that, at 4pm, severe thunderstorms were detected on the weather radar near Fairfield and Horsley Park. These thunderstorms are moving towards the east. They are forecast to affect Blacktown, Parramatta, Bankstown and Liverpool and Sydney Airport, Sydney Olympic Park and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Damaging winds are likely.

Second storm rolling through Penrith right now. First storm caused power outages and some decent damage. @7NewsSydney pic.twitter.com/YukMGf3Er9

— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) November 1, 2014

Well that came quick. Suspect a few at #bondibeach over there may have left the retreat a little late. #summer #storm pic.twitter.com/paPbWrLHqA

— Ky Chow (@KyBusiness) November 1, 2014

The wild weather has already left a trail of destruction in parts of NSW leaving trees down, sparking a house fire and keeping emergency services busy.

The State Emergency Service (SES) has logged about 420 jobs since the storms swept across the Sydney area on Saturday afternoon.

SES spokesman Dave Buchtmann said the south Penrith area in the city’s west had been hard hit.

“And there is more storm activity coming through this afternoon,” he said.

Shoe Shed carpark Penrith. 4 cars gone (oh and a tree) @9NewsSyd @7NewsSydney @2GB873 @wwpenrith @TripleMSydney pic.twitter.com/qeQXBcAidS

— Nathan Taylor (@NateTaylor87) November 1, 2014

Before...and then 1 minute later. #ilovesydney #Sydney #storm 😊 pic.twitter.com/IYUr8f6glC

— Dr Brad McKay (@DrBradMcKay) November 1, 2014

NSW Fire and Rescue (NSWFR) has also responded to calls for help with storm damage with trees down and fallen powerlines across the Sydney area.

Part of a medical centre’s roof in Kingswood in Sydney’s west has also been blown off by strong winds.

NSWFR Superintendent Tom Cooper said a fire started in a two-level house in Lansvale in the south-west after a lightning strike.

A woman in her 40s was inside at the time and felt a tingling sensation from the strike.

Firefighters have extinguished a blaze in the roof but are still working to put out other smouldering fires throughout the house. The rain, damaging Mwinds and lightning strikes are a stark contrast to the perfect weather conditions that saw many flock to the coast on Saturday morning.

Bondi went from this...

... to this in a matter of minutes.

The Bureau of Metrology (BOM) has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the Sydney, Hunter, Illawarra districts and some western parts of the state.

Ironically firefighters are also battling 68 blazes burning across NSW, including a fire that burned over a cliff edge in the Blue Mountains.

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 clear of fallen power lines.

- 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.