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Thunderstorms Pummel New South Wales with Hail, Winds, and Plunging Temps
17 Oct
Summary
- Severe thunderstorms lash New South Wales with large hailstones, damaging winds, and sudden temperature drops
- Storms expected to persist into the evening, bringing risk of flash flooding in some areas
- Residents warned to take shelter and secure loose items as dangerous weather continues

On October 17, 2025, residents across New South Wales are facing a barrage of severe thunderstorms that have been lashing the state throughout the day. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has warned that a warm, moist, and unstable atmosphere is colliding with a surface trough, creating ideal conditions for these dangerous storms.
The storms have already produced large hailstones, with reports of hail up to 3cm wide in some regions. Damaging wind gusts of over 90km/h have also been recorded, posing a threat to property and power supplies. Adding to the chaos, temperatures in Sydney are forecast to plummet from around 30°C to the high teens as a southerly front sweeps through.
The BOM has urged residents to take shelter, secure loose items, and avoid driving through floodwaters as the storms continue to move across the state. The threat is expected to persist into the evening, with the potential for heavy rainfall and flash flooding, particularly in the Mid North Coast region.
Despite the rapid movement of the storms, the BOM has warned that they should not be taken lightly, as the heavy rain and large hail could still cause significant damage in the areas they affect.