Incredible images show how clear blue skies were quickly overrun with thick, dark clouds on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the super cell storm that lashed Sydney.
Waves of clouds were seen ominously approaching the iconic Bondi Beach and leering over Darling Harbour, as the usually crowded areas appeared nearly devoid of people.
Moments later, strong winds saw trees bending and umbrellas flying, and powerful rains sent people scurrying for shelter.
Stunning images showed how dark grey clouds took over blue skies in Sydney on Tuesday afternoon
Waves of storm clouds rolled in over the city, signalling the second major storm to hit in less than 24 hours
Wild winds and powerful rains saw people desert usually packed out areas such as Darling Harbour (pictured)
The storm was the second bout of wild weather to hit the city in 24 hours, after waves of lightning and thunder crashed down in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
About 22,000 lightning strikes pummeled the city and damaged train signal equipment, creating commuter chaos throughout the day.
The city plunged into darkness about 7pm, with nearly 11,000 homes left without power.
Tuesday’s super cell storm won’t make a reappearance any time soon, with light showers expected until the end of the week.
While Tuesday plunged the city into darkness, the sun will be back soon, says senior meteorologist Jacob Cronje
Sunshine and head are expected to return mid-next week, with light showers predicted for the next few days
Sydney plunged into darkness on Tuesday night, after a low-pressure trough triggered severe thunderstorms, bringing hail, lightning and torrential rain
A low-pressure trough triggered the severe thunderstorms, which mainly affected southern and western parts of New South Wales
Despite Sydney’s recent bout of stormy conditions, Weatherzone’s senior meteorologist Jacob Cronje told Daily Mail Australia ‘summer definitely isn’t over’.
‘This week will be significantly cooler, but summer definitely isn’t over in terms of heat,’ he said.
‘The warmth should start to return mid-next week. Evenings will still be warm [this week], and are unlikely to go below 20 degrees.
‘Looking forward, the heat is definitely going to stick around until March.’
The storm hit just 12 hours after about 22,000 lightning strikes pummeled the city and damaged train signal equipment
More than 100km/h winds were recorded across the state, while a 91km/h reading was registered at Sydney Airport shortly after 7pm
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning, saying damaging winds were likely across the state
The State Emergency Service was placed on high alert, and it encouraged people to move cars from under trees, and to stay indoors, away from windows
A low-pressure trough triggered Tuesday’s severe thunderstorms, which mainly affected southern and western parts of New South Wales.
About 11,000 homes across the Southern Highlands, the Illawarra and Sydney were estimated by energy providers to be without power, The Daily Telegraph reported.
More than 100km/h winds were recorded across the state, while a 91km/h reading was registered at Sydney Airport shortly after 7pm.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning an hour later on Tuesday night, saying damaging winds were likely across the state.
‘A trough moving through the state with warm and high humidity air ahead is bringing storms to the state today. The strong storm movement and fast winds aloft mean damaging wind gusts are the likely phenomena,’ a BoM statement said.
Sydneysiders took to social media to share their amateur snaps of the sensational cloud formation which rolled in over the city
The photos show dark, heavy clouds barreling in from the coast and engulfing Sydney with wild winds and torrential rain
Earlier in the day, Weatherzone meteorologist Graeme Brittain had warned of the thunderstorms, despite temperatures still tipping 30 degrees in parts of the city (pictured)
‘Stormy weather could hit on and off throughout the afternoon, or last for about an hour, any time between 1pm and midnight,’ he said (pictured is lightning on Tuesday morning)
The State Emergency Service was placed on high alert, and it encouraged people to move cars from under trees, and to stay indoors, away from windows.
Meanwhile, Sydneysiders took to social media to share their amateur snaps of the sensational cloud formation which rolled in over the city.
The photos showed dark, heavy clouds barreling in from the coast and engulfing Sydney with wild winds and torrential rain.
Earlier in the day, Weatherzone meteorologist Graeme Brittain had warned of the thunderstorms, despite temperatures still tipping 30 degrees in parts of the city.
A powerful thunderstorm rolled over Sydney on Tuesday morning, bringing heavy rain, more than 4,600 lighting strikes and strong winds (pictured)
By 5am, the thunderstorm had made its way to the inner-city, bringing more than 6mm of rainfall in three hours
About 6,800 properties in Bankstown lost power at about 4.30am as the storm hit the city
A lightening trike knocked out power to another 1,000 homes in Westleigh, Thornleigh and Hornsby