Storms up the east coast bring 3.5cm hail

Australia’s east coast has been battered by thunderstorms and hail in a fast-moving wintry blast that moved quickly up the coast leaving a trail of destruction.

The low-pressure trough started in the Sydney area early yesterday afternoon bringing downpours of rain and hail.

Weatherzone forecaster Tom Hough said Penrith and Camden recorded 10mm in just an hour and a half from 2pm.

The temperature also dropped five degrees in just 30 minutes, and nearly 200 lightning strikes were recorded in the Sydney basin.

Flash flooding was experienced in some areas.

The isolated showers and storms moved up to Queensland by the early evening, bringing with them 3.5cm hail storms in parts of the city.

A severe thunderstorm warning for the state has been downgraded, although there are still storms in the area this morning offshore.

“There were individual rain pockets up and down the coast, and it moved solidly upwards,” said Mr Hough.

While Inverell near the Queensland border recorded 14.8mm of rain, Brisbane airport only had 1.5mm, showing just how patchy the system was.

“As we go into the warmer months we’ll see more storms, it’s not uncommon - in fact this afternoon we could see more storms developing later in the day in Queensland,” continued Mr Hough.

The Bureau of Meteorology says Brisbane can expect possible severe thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening, with a medium chance of rain.

Sydney seems to be through its wet patch and can expect sunny tops of 21.

The Harbour City is however emerging from a low hanging fog, that’s particularly thick in the west.

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Forecaster Tom Hough says it’s an after-effect of the moisture that was in the air yesterday.

The Sydney Olympic Park to Barangaroo ferry has been cancelled due to the heavy fog.

Parramatta ferry services were cancelled this morning, but they are back up and running as of 7am. 

South Australia is currently experiencing some warmer weather thanks to a high-pressure system that’s gradually making its way north.

Inland South Australia can expect 28 degrees today while the far north of the state is expecting warmth in the low 30s.

Tomorrow, New South Wales will experience some of that warmer weather, with Sydney looking at a top of 26 degrees.

Around the country, Melbourne is in for a sunny Thursday with a top of 25, showers are expected to set in from tomorrow.

Perth is clear today, with a partly cloudy weekend in the mid-20s on the way.

Darwin is sunny and 35 for the rest of the week, and Hobart is mostly sunny today but in for showers over the weekend.