Weather News

Spring storms fire up in NSW

As we head into the most active time of year for thunderstorms across southeastern Australia, the pattern is unfolding as expected with storms firing up along the NSW ranges once again on Monday.

A trough of low pressure combined with high levels of moisture and instability to trigger thunderstorms along the southern and central ranges on Monday afternoon.

Hail to pea-size was reported from the Blue Mountains. Katoomba picked up 8mm from the storm, which struck at about 2:30pm, dropping the temperature from 28 degrees to 20 in the space of an hour.

On Tuesday, the trough will push northeastward through NSW. Very hot northwesterly winds ahead of the trough will send temperatures into the mid 30s across many parts of the state on Tuesday afternoon.

Thunderstorms will develop over the southern half of the state as the trough moves through, but these are likely to be less widespread and faster-moving than the storms on Monday. Damaging winds will be likely from any storms that develop on Tuesday due to the strong upper level winds present.

The change will reach Sydney during the evening, when there is the best chance of a storm in the city itself.

- Weatherzone

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