Updated
Sydney has again been battered by a summer storm with parts of the city pelted with hail.
Key points
- More than 1,500 people are without power due to severe thunderstorms
- The State Emergency Service has responded to 153 calls since midday
- Sydney Airport is experiencing some delays of domestic and international flights
The Bureau of Meteorology warned of severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding, destructive winds and “giant hailstones” on the east coast, stretching from Lismore in the north to Moruya Heads on the south coast.
Residents of Oran Park and Harrington Park in Sydney’s west seemed to cop the brunt of the hail, with residents reporting hailstones the size of tennis balls and golf balls.
Suburbs across Sydney looked as though they had been blanketed by snow.
Photos have begun circulating on social media of damage to cars parked outside or driving when the storm hit, with reports of broken sunroofs and windows.
One Sydney resident was in a taxi when massive hail smashed through the back window.
Other city residents are posting photos of huge dents on bonnets and roofs.
The storm warning also stretched west to the central tablelands and central western slopes and plains with Dubbo experiencing small but significant hail.
The Bureau said 5-centimetre hail had been reported at Berowra on the upper north shore, 3.5cm hail at Summer Hill and 2cm hail at Petersham in the inner west.
It said “very dangerous thunderstorms” were detected on the weather radar near Gosford and Mona Vale, moving east to north-east.
The central coast suburbs of The Entrance, Toukley and Gorokan were also expected to be hit by very severe thunderstorms.
Other storm cells are forecast to affect Sutherland, Campbelltown and Bowral as well as Wollongong, Kiama and Port Kembla.
The State Emergency Service said it had responded to 421 jobs since midday.
A spokesperson said the worst-hit areas were Liverpool and Berowra, with “almost every second home” in Berowra needing assistance.
Prestons, the Hills District and Hornsby were also badly affected, with most callers needing help with leaking roofs and hail damage.
Air Services Australia said planes are not landing at Sydney Airport due to the thunderstorms.
A spokesperson said the storms were passing quickly, however there would be a “knock-on effect” with delays throughout the night.
Sydney Airport said both terminals were experiencing delays of up to one hour due to the bad weather.
Twenty-one flights had been cancelled while seven had been diverted interstate.
The Transport Management Centre said trains were no longer running between Bankstown and Sydenham on the T3 Bankstown Line, due to urgent power supply repairs caused by severe weather.
Trains had also stopped running between Campbelltown and Macarthur on the T8 Airport and South Line due to urgent track equipment repairs at Macarthur.
A spokesperson said buses were being organised to replace trains but were not yet running and advised commuters to allow extra time for travel.
Ausgrid said 7,000 customers were without power at Arncliffe, Bexley, Rockdale, Galston, Hornsby Heights and Mt Colah while Endeavor Energy said they were working to reinstate power to more than 20,000 across western Sydney, Blue Mountains, Lithgow and the Hawkesbury.
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