Overview
- Forecasters expect storms to develop Friday evening, strengthen on Saturday, then ease for many on Sunday as activity shifts into central and eastern Queensland.
- The highest risk zone spans the NSW Central Coast through the mid north coast and the southern tablelands, with potential impacts for Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle, Tamworth, Byron Bay and Brisbane.
- Hazards include giant hail larger than five centimetres, destructive winds and intense rainfall that could trigger flash flooding, with warnings about outages, property damage and dangerous travel.
- Emergency services are on alert after earlier short, damaging storms in Sydney this week, when the NSW SES received about 400 calls for help over fallen trees, large hail and flooded streets.
- A cold front interacting with low and warm pressure features is driving the outbreak, bringing a sharp cool change to southern states and, according to the ABC, a primary severe risk of damaging wind gusts enhanced by an upper-level jet stream.