Australia Weather News

A series of severe thunderstorms has whipped the coast of NSW, bringing down trees in western Sydney, cutting power and pelting some suburbs with large hailstones.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued a severe thunderstorm warning Saturday afternoon, citing the possibility of hail and heavy rain.

The cluster of storms swept down from the state's Central Coast.

The State Emergency Service received more than 650 calls for help and residents in the Hills District shared images of large hailstones in their backyards.

The wild weather also brought down trees across many suburbs, including Carlingford, and cut power to thousands of homes.

More than 70,000 homes and businesses were without power across eastern parts of New South Wales at 11pm on Saturday.

Endeavour Energy crews were working to restore power to more than 45,000 in Sydney's north-west.

Ausgrid was working to restore power to 26,000 homes in the Hunter, Central Coast and Sydney.

The SES has responded to more than 600 calls for help after damaging winds and giant hailstones brought down trees and power lines across Sydney.

The weather bureau says the storm system is moving north, with a severe thunderstorms warning issued for locations including Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Taree, Armidale and Dorrigo.

Sandra Nicholson from the Transport Management Centre said there were lengthy delays across Sydney's road network, including around Castle Hill Road in Cherrybrook.

Sydney Trains said services were suspended between Blacktown and Lidcombe due to power outages and debris on the tracks, while a lightning strike at Granville caused further impacts on the network.

While rain became heavy in some parts of Sydney's CBD, the city was not in the direct firing line for damaging winds and hail.

ABC