Severe Thunderstorms Batter Sydney and Regional NSW with Hail and Flood Risks

 Sydney, April 29, 2025 – A powerful weather system brought severe thunderstorms to Sydney and regional New South Wales on Tuesday, unleashing large hailstones, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall across coastal areas. The Bureau of Meteorology issued warnings for flash flooding, targeting the Hunter, Metropolitan, Southern Tablelands, Illawarra, Central Tablelands, and South West Slopes regions, as the storms swept through the state.

In western Sydney, a video captured at Baulkham Hills, just north of Parramatta, revealed a heavy dumping of small hailstones on Tuesday afternoon, underscoring the intensity of the storm. The Bureau’s 4:30 PM warning highlighted the ongoing threat, noting, “Thunderstorms occurring along a trough over southeastern NSW are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours in parts of the Hunter, Metropolitan, and Central Tablelands districts.” Specific locations at risk included Gosford, The Entrance, Woy Woy, Putty, Wollombi, and Kulnura.

As the weather system moved north, severe storm warnings for the ACT and Snowy Mountains were canceled, indicating a shift in the storm’s trajectory. However, the Bureau urged residents in affected areas to remain vigilant, with the State Emergency Service advising against walking, riding, or driving through floodwater and to avoid creeks and storm drains. The dynamic nature of the storms has raised concerns about potential damage to infrastructure and safety risks, particularly in areas recently impacted by bushfires, where altered landscapes could exacerbate flooding and debris flow.

The storms follow a pattern of increasing extreme weather events in the region, with climate experts pointing to global warming as a factor amplifying the frequency of heavy rainfall and flash flooding in Sydney. Residents are advised to monitor updates through the Bureau’s website and local broadcasts as the situation develops.