Explosive thunder sparks concerns for Sydneysiders

Residents in Sydney have had a rude awakening this morning after a fierce thunderstorm sparked fears of an explosion.

A number of calls were made to police just after 5am today with people reporting they had heard enormous bangs, a spokesman for NSW Police told 9news.com.au.

“All the jobs determined it was just thunder,” the spokesman said.

“All of them came from the Cremorne area, but it seems it was just the storm.”

Scared residents took to Twitter after the hearing the noise, concerned there had been an explosion in the area.

One disturbed resident in Sydney’s Lower North Shore told 9news.com.au it was the one of the loudest noise she’d ever heard.

“I just woke up to the most massive boom sound ever - shook the entire house at approximately 5:06am,” she said.

“Freaking out over here in Lane Cove area.”

Weatherzone said the sound was most likely the result of lightning striking the ground.

“Some of the lightning struck the ground which can make it sound much louder than if it remains in the clouds,” Weatherzone senior meteorologist Brett Dutschke told 9news.com.au.

Mr Dutschke said the worst of the storm has passed.

“There will only be light showers until about 8am,” he said.

The storm stretched from northern Sydney to as far south as Engadine in the Sutherland Shire. 

Storms struck elsewhere in New South Wales as well, with one 9NEWS viewer capturing a photo of lightning striking as the sun rose in Forster.