A violent and fast-moving thunderstorm tore through Newcastle and the wider Hunter region on Sunday afternoon, leaving a trail of destruction that included widespread blackouts, flash flooding, and significant disruption.
Widespread Damage and Power Outages
The intense storm cell, which brought damaging winds, large hailstones, and torrential rainfall, knocked out electricity to thousands of homes and businesses. Major power outages were reported across suburbs including Lambton, Waratah, Broadmeadow, Georgetown, Hamilton North, and Mayfield. Residents in Dudley and parts of Gateshead, Redhead, and Whitebridge were also plunged into darkness.
Utility provider Ausgrid confirmed it was working on the issue throughout Sunday night, with crews continuing restoration efforts into Monday morning to reconnect affected residents. The storm's fury also brought down numerous trees and caused flash flooding across the city, leading to hazardous driving conditions with water over roads and traffic lights blacked out in multiple areas.
Flight Diverted as Storm Intensifies
The severity of the weather was underscored when at least one passenger plane scheduled to land at Williamtown Airport was forced to divert to Sydney for safety. The Bureau of Meteorology had issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the area, detecting dangerous conditions near Newcastle city and Stockton, with the system moving eastwards.
Intense rainfall was recorded, with Mangrove Mountain receiving 20mm of rain in just over an hour. Hailstones measuring up to two centimetres in diameter were reported at Berowra just before 4pm. While the Bureau noted a temporary easing of thunderstorms around 6pm, it warned of redevelopment, with severe storms indeed hitting some areas again as night fell.
Clean-Up Begins Amid Heatwave Forecast
The clean-up operation is now underway across the Hunter, with residents and emergency services assessing the full extent of the damage. The State Emergency Service (SES) is the lead agency for storm and flood response, and residents requiring emergency assistance are urged to call 132 500.
The disruptive storm has arrived just ahead of a predicted heatwave for the region. The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting top temperatures of 33, 34, and 35 degrees Celsius for Newcastle from Thursday onwards, marking a sharp shift from the wild storm conditions.
