Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in Mid North Coast, Hunter, Metropolitan, Illawarra, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, North West Slopes and Plains, Central West Slopes and Plains, Lower Western, Northern Tablelands and parts of Northern Rivers, South Coast, South West Slopes, Riverina and Australian Capital Territory Forecast Districts.

Issued at 4:58 pm Thursday, 30 September 2021.

Severe thunderstorms continuing and developing across much of NSW.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce large, possibly giant hailstones and damaging winds over the next several hours in parts of the North West Slopes and Plains and Northern Tablelands districts. Locations which may be affected include Tenterfield, Glen Innes, Inverell, Tabulam, Boggabilla and Ashford.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds and large hailstones over the next several hours in the Mid North Coast, Hunter, Metropolitan, Illawarra, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, North West Slopes and Plains, Central West Slopes and Plains, Lower Western, Northern Tablelands and parts of the Northern Rivers, South Coast, South West Slopes, Riverina and Australian Capital Territory districts. Locations which may be affected include Grafton, Taree, Newcastle, Gosford, Sydney, Wollongong, Nowra, Batemans Bay, Armidale, Orange, Goulburn, Tamworth, Moree and Dubbo.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce large, possibly giant hailstones and damaging winds over the next several hours. Thunderstorms are forecast to affect Sydney and Parramatta.

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 at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.
* Report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid (131 388), Endeavour Energy (131 003), Essential Energy (132 080) or Evoenergy (131 093) as shown on your power bill.
* Trees that have been damaged by fire are likely to be more unstable and more likely to fall.
* Unplug computers and appliances.
* Avoid using the phone during the storm.
* Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.
* Stay vigilant and monitor conditions. Note that the landscape may have changed following bushfires.
* For emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES (NSW and ACT) on 132 500.