Urgent storm warning for central and south NSW including Orange, Bathurst, Katoomba and Parkes

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm emergency warning for a significant portion of NSW – warning some residents to unplug their electronic devices and move their cars away from trees and power lines as soon as possible.

In a statement, the BOM warned that a vast swath of the state – from just south of Newcastle and the Central Coast to areas northwest of Parkes in the central west – is expected to see heavy rainfall, damaging winds and large hailstones on Thursday night. .

Meanwhile, Sydney is likely to be battered by rain with a possible chance of a thunderstorm, especially in the west.

It follows intense storms in Canberra and Melbourne around 9am.

Regions subject to the emergency alert include the Central Tablelands and parts of Hunter, Illawarra, Southern Tablelands, Central West Slopes and Plains, South West Slopes, Riverina and Lower Western districts.

“A surface trough passing through central and eastern parts of the state is producing thunderstorms this afternoon, with a chance of severe storms tonight because of an approaching upper-level trough,” the Bureau said.

“Individual severe storms are also approaching the NSW/Victoria border.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to bring heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding, damaging wind gusts and large hailstones in the warning area in the coming hours.

“Locations that could be affected include Gosford, Bowral, Orange, Bathurst, Katoomba and Parkes.”

Sydney itself has been kept out of the emergency warning zone but could feel the storm’s aftereffects later this evening.

Residents in the warning zone have been advised to move vehicles under cover or away from trees, secure loose items outside, and stay away from creeks and storm drains that could be prone to flash flooding.

As of 3pm Cowra, about 90km south of Orange, recorded the highest rainfall in Australia for Thursday at 55mm.