More than 100,000 NSW homes and businesses remain without power after wild weather tore through parts of the state, killing one man, ripping roofs off homes and throwing the afternoon commute into chaos.
The state was warned to brace for high heat and winds amid dry conditions – including the first catastrophic fire warning since 2023 – but ended up also being walloped by a string of storms that rolled through Sydney, the Hunter, Central Coast and further north.
Damaging wind gusts above 100km/h were reported in multiple spots from the Hunter to Sydney and further west, knocking trees onto power lines and cars.
Emergency crews also responded to a large gum tree falling onto a house on Kurrajong Road at North St Marys (9News)
High winds knock down trees
A 76-year-old man was hit by a falling tree at a home on Glenworth Valley Road on the Central Coast and was unable to be revived by emergency workers who were called to the scene about 1.30pm.
The tragedy occurred as severe thunderstorms swept through Sydney and its surrounds, hitting Richmond, Camden, Campbelltown and Penrith in the early afternoon, as well as the Hunter, with warnings stretching as far as Tamworth, Bourke, Scone, Walgett and Coonabarabran.
About 1pm, emergency crews also responded to a large gum tree falling onto a house on Kurrajong Road at North St Marys, where a woman and her baby were inside.
There were no injuries, and they were taken to Nepean Hospital for mandatory testing.
“She was just very shaken up, she was just thankful that we were there to put her in the car,” a witness told 9News.
A 35-year-old man had to be cut free after being trapped under a branch while camping in Orange. (9News)
A 35-year-old man had to be cut free after being trapped under a branch while camping in Orange.
A car roof was flattened by a falling tree at Cambridge Park in western Sydney but no one was injured.
The main street of Kurri Kurri, north-west of Newcastle, was left looking like a disaster zone.
The main street of Kurri Kurri, north-west of Newcastle, was left looking like a disaster zone. (9News)
The State Emergency Service (SES) had received reports of more than 1145 incidents by 3.30pm.
“These incidents relate mainly to trees taking down power lines and also damaging roofs,” NSW SES Assistant Commissioner Sean Kearns said.
“As people drive home, you may come across delays due to trees across roads as they’re getting cleared.”
He said at least six roofs were completely blown off houses in the small village of Nevertire, west of Dubbo, and another suffered partial wall collapses after being struck by lightning.
The SES has received more than 620 calls this afternoon. (Nine)
The Bureau of Meteorology cancelled severe thunderstorm warnings about 7.30pm for all but the north-east of the state, where the chance of damaging winds remained late into the night.
The Northern Rivers and parts of Mid North Coast, Northern Tablelands and North West Slopes and Plains Forecast Districts were affected.
People are being urged to stay indoors due to severe weather conditions. (Nine)
Afternoon commute disrupted
The rail system also struggled, with major impacts on the North Shore, Western and Blue Mountains lines.
Long lines and huge crowds of commuters formed as trains were halted between Parramatta, Richmond and St Mary’s after the power supply was knocked out at various locations.
Transport for NSW brought in replacement buses but the delays continued well into the night.
Light rail services between Carlingford and Rosehill were also halted due to fallen overhead wires near Carlingford.
The rail system also struggled, with major impacts on the North Shore, Western and Blue Mountains lines. (9News)Long lines and huge crowds of commuters formed as trains were halted between Parramatta, Richmond and St Mary’s after the power supply was knocked out at various locations. (9News)
Power outages remained late into the night, with many residents warned the lights wouldn’t be coming back on until the morning.
At 10.30pm, Endeavour Energy had more than 47,000 customers without power and Ausgrid was working to reconnect more than 22,000. The latest update from Essential Energy, at 5pm, showed 39,000 homes and businesses across regional NSW without power.
Endeavour said the damage to its network was mainly through western Sydney, including Blacktown, Rooty Hill, Doonside and Kings Park.
Severe thunderstorms swept across Sydney. (Nine)
“Our emergency teams continue to work non-stop to carry out essential repairs however, due to a total fire ban today we’re not permitted to use our automated processes to quickly restore power and must carefully inspect each area prior to reconnection,” it said, in an SMS to customers.
“We cannot guarantee that power will be restored to your property tonight.”
