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Sydney thunderstorm leaves almost 50,000 without power after wreaking havoc

Almost 50,000 Sydney residents have been thrown into darkness after a thunderstorm passed over the city, causing mass blackouts as it downed trees and power lines.
The storm today brought heavy winds, downpours and hail to the city in a devastating but brief barrage before it headed out to sea.
Power provider AusGrid said at least 48,000 customers were tonight without electricity after "extensive damage" to the grid.
A lightning strike off Kangaroo Point.
A lightning strike off Kangaroo Point. (Supplied)
"Power for the bulk of those customers will not be able to be restored tonight due to the level of damage," a statement said.
"Emergency crews will work through the night to focus on making safe life threatening hazards such as fallen power lines.
"They are responding to more than 1500 hazards on the network which must be made safe before power can be restored."
Severe wind gusts have downed trees across Sydney during the intense storm. (AAP)
Power outages are expected to extend until tomorrow and residents are urged to make alternative arrangements for food and medical situations. (AAP)
A severe weather warning remains in place for the NSW South Coast down to the Victorian border. (AAP)
Majority of the outages appear to be affecting suburbs in Sydney's north, ranging from Brookvale, through Frenchs Forest and Chatswood to Pymble and up to Berowra.
AusGrid said the outages were expected to extend until tomorrow and urged residents to make alternative arrangements for food and medical situations.
A severe weather warning remains in place for the NSW South Coast down to the Victorian border.
Today's wild weather also heavily impacted train commuters, who were stranded across the city as crews worked to clear fallen trees from the tracks.
One particular tree that came down on the Gordon to Hornsby line left commuters queued up at Hornsby train station for as long as three hours.
"The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing," one commuter complained as replacement buses failed to show up.
"All the trains were cancelled or can't get you there – you've just got to try and get as far as you can."
Sydney trains informed commuters that "following extreme weather conditions earlier in trees blocking the tracks at Gordon, and urgent power supply repairs at Hornsby, delays remain".
Fallen trees and power outages are also wreaking havoc on roads, mostly in the city's north.
In Pymble, two of three northbound lanes of the Pacific Highway are closed past Mona Vale Road.
All eastbound lanes of Boundary Street in Roseville are closed, and further up the road there are fallen wires in Castle Cove.
Traffic lights are blacked out in Lindfield, Frenchs Forest and North Narrabeen.
And in Bondi, all northbound lanes of Old South Head Road are closed at Curlewis Street because of a fallen tree.
Small hail has been reported in the Sutherland Shire, and 90km/h wind gusts have been observed at Holsworthy and Horsley Park.
A trampoline has been thrown into the hedges in Frenchs Forest.
A trampoline has been thrown into the hedges in Frenchs Forest. (Supplied)
Storm clouds move over Bondi Beach in Sydney, Monday, November 25, 2019.
Storm clouds move over Bondi Beach in Sydney, Monday, November 25, 2019. (AAP)
The Bureau notes that while it is 39 degrees in Tocal in the Hunter, it is zero degrees and snowing at Thredbo.
In spite of the rain, the heavy gusts have led the Bureau to issue a severe bushfire warning for the Greater Hunter region.
The State Emergency Service has recommended people move their cars under cover or away from trees, secure loose items around your house, and avoid using the phone.
It also suggests unplugging computers and appliances, stay away from windows and keep at least eight metres away from fallen power lines.
Sydney has been blanketed by smoke from the Gospers Mountain bushfire in recent days.
Firefighters fear the lightning strikes from this thunderstorm may start new blazes.
A powerful thunderstorm that passed over Sydney has downed trees and powerlines, causing blackouts and traffic chaos.
The storm brought heavy winds, downpours and hail to the city in a devastating but brief barrage before heading out to sea.
The Bureau of Meteorology has now issued storm warnings for Newcastle and the Hunter region.
A lightning strike off Kangaroo Point.
A lightning strike off Kangaroo Point. (Supplied)
The wild weather also heavily impacted train commuters, who were stranded across the city as crews worked to clear fallen trees from the tracks.
One particular tree that came down on the Gordon to Hornsby line left commuters queued up at Hornsby train station for as long as three hours.
"The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing," one commuter complained as replacement buses failed to show up.
"All the trains were cancelled or can't get you there – you've just got to try and get as far as you can."
Sydney trains informed commuters that "following extreme weather conditions earlier in trees blocking the tracks at Gordon, and urgent power supply repairs at Hornsby, delays remain".
Fallen trees and power outages are also wreaking havoc on roads, mostly in the city's north.
In Pymble, two of three northbound lanes of the Pacific Highway are closed past Mona Vale Road.
All eastbound lanes of Boundary Street in Roseville are closed, and further up the road there are fallen wires in Castle Cove.
Traffic lights are blacked out in Lindfield, Frenchs Forest and North Narrabeen.
And in Bondi, all northbound lanes of Old South Head Road are closed at Curlewis Street because of a fallen tree.
Travellers are urged to allow more travel time.
Ausgrid has announced that 43,000 homes and businesses are now without power all over Sydney.
A trampoline has been thrown into the hedges in Frenchs Forest.
A trampoline has been thrown into the hedges in Frenchs Forest. (Supplied)
That includes suburbs in the north like Chatswood, Lindfield and Frenchs Forest, in the south like Jannali, Engadine and Hurstville, and in the west like Villawood and Bass Hill.
Ausgrid emergency crews are working to restore power as quickly as possible.
Small hail has been reported in the Sutherland Shire, and 90km/h wind gusts have been observed at Holsworthy and Horsley Park.
Storm clouds move over Bondi Beach in Sydney, Monday, November 25, 2019.
Storm clouds move over Bondi Beach in Sydney, Monday, November 25, 2019. (AAP)
Another thunderstorm is forecast later this afternoon in Sydney.
The Bureau notes that while it is 39 degrees in Tocal in the Hunter, it is zero degrees and snowing at Thredbo.
In spite of the rain, the heavy gusts have led the Bureau to issue a severe bushfire warning for the Greater Hunter region.
Damaging winds and large hailstones have been forecast for the Hunter, Illawarra, South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, Southwest Slopes, Snowy Mountains, the ACT, and parts of the Mid-North Coast, Central West Slopes and Northwest Slopes.
The State Emergency Service has recommended people move their cars under cover or away from trees, secure loose items around your house, and avoid using the phone.
It also suggests unplugging computers and appliances, stay away from windows and keep at least eight metres away from fallen power lines.
Sydney has been blanketed by smoke from the Gospers Mountain bushfire in recent days.
Firefighters fear the lightning strikes from this thunderstorm may start new blazes.
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