Sydney streets blanketed in hail in severe thunderstorms

Streets across Sydney were blanketed in thick layers of hail overnight as severe thunderstorms battered parts of New South Wales.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued a severe thunderstorm warning for heavy rain and large hailstones in the the Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast, North West Slopes and Plains and Northern Tablelands Forecast Districts.

The passing storm left roads looking like a snowstorm had swept through as they were covered in hailstones and ice.

Meanwhile, large amounts of rain that bucketed down over Sydney also caused problems for the city's motorists, travellers and commuters.

In just an hour, Bankstown recorded 58 millilitres while Milperra saw 45mm.

Train passengers on the T2 Inner West & Leppington Line, T3 Bankstown Line and the T8 Airport & South Line were also advised to allow extra travel time after lightning strikes damaged equipment at Campsie.

At the airport, inbound and outbound flights were significantly delayed with some passengers reporting wait times of an hour on the tarmac.

Close to 50 flights across all airlines were cancelled from around 5:00pm.

With Weatherzone.