Parts of Australia’s east coast were battered by heavy thunderstorms and massive hail on Good Friday – urging many residents to stay indoors.
Sydneysiders enjoyed a sunny 24°C day before the weather quickly turned into a vicious thunderstorm late Friday afternoon with heavy gusts of wind and lightning.
Southeastern parts of Queensland were also in the line of fire with the Bureau of Meteorology warning that two ‘highly dangerous thunderstorm cells’ were moving through the Somerset region.
Hailstones up to 11cm wide were seen in the Darling Downs region, while hail as large as 8cm fell in Haden, in the Toowoomba region.
However, those planning an Easter Sunday barbecue are in luck with showers expected to dissipate across most of Australia by Saturday.
Australia’s east coast was battered by sudden thunderstorms and heavy hail on Good Friday (pictured in Marsden Park, Sydney)
Sydneysiders saw a mild 24C quickly turn into a vicious thunderstorm with massive hail falling from the sky (pictured)
Lightning is seen in Gunnamatta, Cronulla on Friday night
Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino said South East Australia was coping with the worst weather.
“A top-floor trough moving across South East Australia on Friday will cause the atmosphere to become unstable and prepared for severe thunderstorms,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
“This volatile weather pattern will result in widespread showers and thunderstorms over central and southeastern Queensland, eastern and southern NSW, the ACT and Victoria.”
The BOM issued a severe thunderstorm warning for residents of Sydney, the Blue Mountains and Wollongong at 8.20pm on Friday.
Residents of Sydney, including in Kellyville, and in Bowral, in southern NSW, shared images of hail hitting their homes.
Meanwhile, the SES urged people in the Greater Wollongong area to stay indoors, keep away from windows and cars away from trees as a storm battered the NSW south coast.
Hailstones measuring 6cm were reported in Yass, southwest of Sydney, while wind gusts of 104km/h were felt in Cabramurra, in the Western Snowy Mountains of NSW.
There is a hailstorm in Sydney on Friday evening
The State Emergency Service is advising those in the Greater Wollongong area to stay indoors, away from windows and keep cars away from trees as a storm hits the NSW south coast
In Queensland, Crows Nest and Somerset in the southeastern part of the state were alerted as dangerous thunderstorms passed over.
A wind gust of 104 km/h was recorded in Oakey in the Toowoomba region, while Blackwater in central QLD saw winds of up to 98 km/h.
Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra – storms are expected to dissipate in time for Saturday.
But for those in Melbourne hoping to spend the long weekend outside, the wet weather is predicted to linger in the Victorian capital until Tuesday.
Tasmanians are also in for a wet Easter, with the sun not expected to rise in Hobart until next Wednesday.
Sydney will be mostly sunny on Saturday with a forecast of 25 degrees.
Canberra has a chance of showers on Saturday with a dry but cool day forecast for Easter Sunday with highs as low as 15C on the horizon.
Meanwhile, Brisbane residents wouldn’t know that the seasons have changed with temperatures soaring into the late 20s and early 30s over the weekend and next week – with no rain in sight.
Adelaide may get some showers on Saturday, but a dry and cloudy day is ahead before Easter.
On the other side of the country, Perth will be warm and sunny with temperatures reaching 25°C every day of the long weekend.
Darwin is in the wet season with storms and temperatures around 30 degrees.
Hail crashed in Sydney and Wollongong on Friday to the shock of many Aussies
Sydneysiders were quick to share photos of the sudden beating on Friday. Pictured is hail in Kellyville
A not so good Friday! Shocked Aussies were surprised by the sudden hailstorm on Friday. Pictured in Bowral, southern NSW
Meanwhile, those heading to the airport have been warned they’ll likely be standing in long lines for their weekend getaway.
Sydney Airport is forecasting to welcome around 120,000 passengers this weekend.
“It sure is busy here this morning and air traffic is on the rise this Easter period. We have so much more staff this year. Last year we lost so many manufacturing jobs, especially here at Sydney Airport,” Greg Hay, Sydney Airport’s general manager of operations, told Today.
“But we’ve been rebuilding our teams lately. The teams have all been retrained and we are back and ready for this Easter period.’
Meanwhile, Melbourne Airport will handle 2.1 million passengers this Easter.
Those flying domestically are requested to arrive an hour or two before their flight, while international travelers should arrive two to three hours earlier.
Airports asked customers not to arrive earlier than recommended to avoid overcrowding.
Weatherzone issued its own warning to travelers, saying “Some flights may also be affected by Friday’s stormy weather.”
Storms are expected to hit Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane from Friday afternoon
Eastern Australia hit by a ‘very dangerous supercell’ on Good Friday (pictured, the Severe Weather Warning Zone)