Lightning, gales and hailstones pummel Sydney

Severe thunderstorms, damaging 90km/h gales and large hailstones lashed regions across NSW, including Sydney, overnight.

A severe thunderstorm warning has now been cancelled after torrential rain and hail the size of golf balls hit the state. 

Severe squalls and ‘dangerous’ supercells developed across the Hunter and mid north coast on Thursday afternoon and evening, delivering destructive winds, heavy rain and hailstones up to five centimetres in width in some areas. 

The thunderstorms hit the southern tablelands, central tablelands and Sydney metro areas with hailstones up to three centimetres wide hitting Oberon in the central tablelands, Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Gabrielle Woodhouse said. 

The storm activity continued throughout the night, with lightning also hitting NSW and Queensland as well as flooding the streets ahead of the morning commute but is expected to ease by about lunchtime on Friday.

‘The whole system that is producing the trigger is moving eastwards … so we will see thunderstorms move off to the east and by lunchtime, we should see it all out by the Tasman Sea,’ Ms Woodhouse said.

A radar map showed a strong front smash into the NSW coast bringing heavy rain and high winds through the night

'Golf ball size hail' stones hit Mount Maroon, near the border of Queensland and NSW, while hail stones of up to five centimeters lashed parts of NSW 

‘Golf ball size hail’ stones hit Mount Maroon, near the border of Queensland and NSW, while hail stones of up to five centimeters lashed parts of NSW 

A super-cell storm has battered the east coast with massive dumps of rain and is likely to continued well into the night 

A super-cell storm has battered the east coast with massive dumps of rain and is likely to continued well into the night 

Up to 24mm of rain fell in Sydney on Thursday, with Cronulla getting 17mm in the space of an hour late that night while other areas got up to 14mm. 

The South Coast was hit even harder with up to 70mm of rain falling in less than three hours late in the evening a long with ferocious winds. 

‘Golf ball size hail’ stones hit Mount Maroon, near the border of Queensland and NSW, while hail stones of up to five centimeters lashed parts of NSW.

Experts warned severe thunderstorms were expected to produce ‘large hailstones, damaging wind gusts and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding’.  

Huge hail stones and lashings of lightning have hit NSW and Queensland and more is on way

Huge hail stones and lashings of lightning have hit NSW and Queensland and more is on way

Up to 24mm of rain fell on Sydney during Thursday, with Cronulla getting 17mm in the space of an hour late that night while other areas got up to 14mm 

Up to 24mm of rain fell on Sydney during Thursday, with Cronulla getting 17mm in the space of an hour late that night while other areas got up to 14mm 

The experts warn severe thunderstorms are expected to produce 'large hailstones, damaging wind gusts and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding'

The experts warn severe thunderstorms are expected to produce ‘large hailstones, damaging wind gusts and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding’

BoM said 'golf ball size hail' stones hit Mount Maroon, near border of Queensland and NSW

BoM said ‘golf ball size hail’ stones hit Mount Maroon, near border of Queensland and NSW

The wild storms have caused some flights to be delayed or cancelled at Canberra Airport

The wild storms have caused some flights to be delayed or cancelled at Canberra Airport

There are no severe thunderstorm warnings issued for Victoria as they have been cancelled

There are no severe thunderstorm warnings issued for Victoria as they have been cancelled

Australia's east coast was warned to brace for large hail and strong winds as thunderstorms (pictured) hit NSW and Queensland, potentially creating 'very dangerous supercells'

Australia’s east coast was warned to brace for large hail and strong winds as thunderstorms (pictured) hit NSW and Queensland, potentially creating ‘very dangerous supercells’

The most powerful storms so far this season will form on Thursday morning and are expected to hit their hardest Thursday night 

The most powerful storms so far this season will form on Thursday morning and are expected to hit their hardest Thursday night 

‘The most powerful storms so far this season formed on Thursday morning in the ranges and moved to the coast in the afternoon, lashing the region from eastern Victoria to central Queensland with intense rain,’ Weatherzone Meteorologist Graeme Brittain told Daily Mail Australia.

‘We’re potentially going to see winds in excess of 80km/h, large hail is also a possibility, as well as localised flash flooding,’ he said. 

The storms may create the perfect environment for dangerous supercells to form, Mr Brittain confirmed.

Tom Saunders, meteorologist for Sky News, said there were three ingredients necessary for a thunderstorm, and all three would be present on Thursday. 

BoM issued an updated severe thunderstorm warning for parts of NSW and Queensland

BoM issued an updated severe thunderstorm warning for parts of NSW and Queensland

The regions from central Queensland and parts of NSW will be lashed with intense rain

The regions from central Queensland and parts of NSW will be lashed with intense rain

There have been reports of 80km/h winds, hail larger than 4cm and localised flash flooding

There have been reports of 80km/h winds, hail larger than 4cm and localised flash flooding

Mr Saunders said the secret ingredient which made thunderstorms severe, called wind shear, was also present.

Wind shear is the difference in wind speed and/or direction over a short distance.

High wind shear can rotate storms, causing them to become more powerful and dangerous.

The meteorologist said it is very likely wind shear could play a part in creating supercell storms on Thursday. 

Sydney and Brisbane could be facing 'the most powerful thunderstorms so far this season'

Sydney and Brisbane could be facing ‘the most powerful thunderstorms so far this season’

Tom Saunders, meteorologist for Sky News, said there were three ingredients necessary for a thunderstorm, and all three would be present on Thursday

Tom Saunders, meteorologist for Sky News, said there were three ingredients necessary for a thunderstorm, and all three would be present on Thursday

On Tuesday, the Bureau of Meteorology said there was a good chance of a La Nina weather pattern, which could bring intense rain, storms and cyclones throughout the summer months.

‘The chance of a La Niña forming in late 2017 has increased. Chances are now around 50 per cent – twice the normal likelihood,’ the Bureau said. 

Meanwhile, wild weather is expected to hit Victoria with strong winds and dry conditions prompting a severe fire warning for the Mallee and snow due in alpine areas.

Bushfires and snow are still predicted to hit Victoria in a 24-hour period in the coming days despite an earlier severe thunderstorm warning blowing over, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

Hailstones and flash flooding were predicted in the northwest of the state on Thursday but the severe warning was cancelled.

Strong winds are expected to sweep across the Mallee region on Sunday, with already dry conditions adding to the bushfire danger rating, which is tipped to hit ‘severe’.

Mr Saunders also predicts a supercell storm could hit the two major cities on Thursday

Mr Saunders also predicts a supercell storm could hit the two major cities on Thursday

‘Victoria, probably not with this first front, but a stronger front later on Sunday could push the Mallee towards severe or into severe fire danger even though they have had some rain,’ he said.

There were a couple of warm days but the fuel has dried and there would be a lot of wind, Mr Williams said.

‘We’ll be looking at the wind being the key reason to lift the fire danger,’ he said.

But there would be a rapid temperature drop up to 15C from Sunday into Monday which could result in snow falling in alpine areas.

‘And we’re likely to see a snow level on our ranges down to about 1000 metres or so,’ he said.

‘It’s a really big contrast (and) just shows the waters to the south of continent haven’t increased in temperature much.’

FORECAST: THE WEATHER ACROSS AUSTRALIA

SYDNEY 

Friday: Min 17, Max 22. Clearing shower

Saturday: Min 16, Max 27. Mostly sunny

Sunday: Min 19, Max 29. Mostly sunny 

BRISBANE: 

Friday: Min 21, Max 30. Sunny

Saturday: Min 18, Max 98. Mostly sunny 

Sunday: Min 20, Max 31. Possible thunderstorm

ADELAIDE 

Friday: Min 13, Max 32. Late shower

Saturday: Min 12, Max 21. Mostly sunny

Sunday: Min 12, Max 27. Windy with showers 

DARWIN 

Friday: Min 26, Max 34. Possible thunderstorm

Saturday: Min 26, Max 34. Possible thunderstorm

Sunday: Min 27, Max 34. Possible thunderstorm

MELBOURNE 

Friday: Min 11, Max 27. Clearing shower

Saturday: Min 16, Max 21. Clearing shower

Sunday: Min 11, Max 28. Windy with showers

CANBERRA 

Friday: Min 10, Max 23. Mostly sunny

Saturday: Min 8, Max 27. Late shower

Sunday: Min 11, Max 27. Sunny 

PERTH 

Friday: Min 12, Max 20. Possible shower

Saturday: Min 14, Max 21. Possible shower

Sunday: Min 14, Max 22. Clearing shower

HOBART 

Friday: Min 9, Max 24. Mostly sunny

Saturday: Min 15, Max 24. Clearing shower

Sunday: Min 10, Max 24. Windy with showers 

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