Hail hits Sydney with severe thunderstorm warnings in place for much of NSW

Parts of Sydney have been showered in hail and the NSW north coast is bracing for a lashing as a low pressure system moves over the state.

Severe thunderstorm warnings are in place for much of NSW, including the Northern Rivers, the Riverina and South Coast.

Sydney’s Sutherland Shire was pelted by 3 centimetre hail around 1.00pm and a warning is still in place for “large, possibly giant hailstones”.

Heavy rain and damaging winds have also hit the Illawarra and South Coast.

The State Emergency Service has has to rescue four people from floodwaters in Ulladulla, Albion Park and Dapto.

Since 9.00am, Moruya has had 131 millimetres of rain and Ulladulla has had more than 100mm in the past three-to-four hours.

The Princes Hwy is affected by flooding at various locations in Ulladulla and drivers are advised to exercise caution.

Fire and Rescue crews attended the Woolworths in Albion Park after the roof collapsed and caused the store to flood/

Heavy winds have also caused a landslide on the Snowy Mountains Highway near Brown Mountain with traffic affected in both directions.

Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) duty forecaster Shuang Wang said conditions were very unstable and the Northern Rivers and Mid-North Coast areas were in the storm’s path now.

“Wind, rainfall and hail could be worse for the north-eastern parts of NSW during the afternoon,” she said.

Ms Wang said conditions will ease by tomorrow but winds will still be strong on the coast.

Power outages are currently affecting residents in Sydney’s northern suburbs including Mona Vale, Ingleside and Elanora Heights.