Dangerous storm hits Sydney's Eastern Suburbs

Today was one of those days I wish I was in Sydney. It was a nice, warm day that topped 30.7C at the Airport and it ended with a spectacular and menacing looking storm.

A low pressure trough moved north-east across New South Wales today generating showers and storm activity throughout the state. Warm northerly winds took the temperature up in Sydney during the middle of the day, but around 4:30pm a southerly change preceded an intense storm.

As a storm cell developed south west of the Airport, the Bureau issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for suburbs surrounding Sydney Airport warning of lightning strikes, heavy rain and potential flash flooding. The screenshot below is of the Sydney rain radar image at 4:36pm.

Terry Hills 128km rain radar image at 4:36pm AEST on March 5 2014
Source: Bureau of Meteorology (screenshot unedited from original image)

To get an idea of what the storm looked like, check out the photos in this Daily Telegraph gallery.

Sydney Airport received 13.0mm in the hour between 4:30pm and 5:30pm and experienced wind gusts up to 59km/h, the strongest since February 10. Only 1.6mm fell at Observatory Hill as the Eastern Suburbs were the worst affected. Aircraft enroute to Sydney were also kept in a holding pattern until the storm moved on.

There may be more shower and storm activity for Sydney early tomorrow morning.