Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
New South Wales
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
for Heavy Rainfall, Damaging Winds And Large Hailstones
for parts of Hunter, Metropolitan, Illawarra, South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, Snowy Mountains, Central West Slopes and Plains and South West Slopes Forecast Districts.
Issued at 1:49 pm Saturday, 7 March 2026.
Severe thunderstorms continue to develop about the Great Dividing Range.
Weather Situation
A trough of low-pressure combines with exceptionally high atmospheric moisture to produce slow moving thunderstorms over parts of the southeastern New South Wales.
HEAVY RAINFALL, DAMAGING WINDS and LARGE HAILSTONES for the following areas:
Hunter, Metropolitan, Illawarra, South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, Central West Slopes and Plains, South West Slopes and Snowy Mountains
Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours in parts of the Hunter, Metropolitan, Illawarra, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, Central West Slopes and Plains and South West Slopes districts. Locations which may be affected include Orange, Goulburn, Katoomba, Bowral, Bathurst and Campbelltown.
Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding, and possible damaging winds and large hailstones over the next several hours in parts of the South Coast, Southern Tablelands and Snowy Mountains districts. Locations which may be affected include Braidwood, Araluen, Captains Flat and Bredbo.
33.0 mm was recorded at Orange in the 1 hour to 12:35 pm.
The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* Park your car under secure cover and away from trees, powerlines and drains.
* Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
* Keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.
* Report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid (131 388), Endeavour Energy (131 003), Essential Energy (132 080) or Evoenergy (131 093) as shown on your power bill.
* Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
* Don't walk, ride your bike or drive through flood water.
* If you are trapped by flash flooding, seek refuge in the highest available place and ring 000 if you need rescue.
* Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.
For emergency help in flood and storms, ring the SES on 132 500.
Stay updated on the Hazards Near Me NSW app or the ACT ESA website (https://esa.act.gov.au).
The next warning is due to be issued by 4:50 pm.
Check https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts. Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts or call 1300 659 210. The Bureau and State Emergency Service would appreciate warnings being broadcast regularly.
Forecast
Cowra (33.8347°S, 148.6912°E, 319m AMSL) set as my default location ›
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7 day forecast
Today: Cloudy. High chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening. Thunderstorms possibly severe with damaging winds, large hail and heavy rain which may lead to flash flooding in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming SE/SW 15 to 20 km/h in the late afternoon then tending E/SE in the evening.
Forecast for Cowra (33.8347°S, 148.6912°E, 319m AMSL) Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Summary
Minimum 20° 19° 17° 16° 16° 20° 16° Maximum 31° 29° 30° 32° 34° 33° 29° Chance of rain 40% 20% 30% 5% 5% 50% 50% Likely amount 1-5mm < 1mm < 1mm < 1mm < 1mm 1-5mm 1-5mm UV index Extreme Very High Very High Extreme Extreme Very High Very High Fire Danger Rating Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate - - - Frost risk Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm Wind speed 9
(km/h)17
(km/h)17
(km/h)25
(km/h)14
(km/h)15
(km/h)6
(km/h)12
(km/h)5
(km/h)15
(km/h)13
(km/h)24
(km/h)9
(km/h)19
(km/h)Wind direction SE SW SE SE SE SSE SSE S ENE N NE NW SSE SSE Relative humidity 84% 65% 71% 47% 68% 42% 74% 33% 67% 31% 56% 35% 65% 42% Dew point 20°C 20°C 17°C 16°C 15°C 15°C 16°C 13°C 15°C 13°C 15°C 14°C 14°C 14°C -
Sunrise and sunset times
Sunrise / Sunset for Cowra (33.8347°S, 148.6912°E, 319m AMSL) First light Sunrise Sunset Last light Moon rise Moon set Moon phase Last quarter New moon First quarter Full moon 6:33am EDT 6:58am EDT 7:35pm EDT 8:00pm EDT 9:17pm EDT 10:22am EDT
Waning gibbous
Last quarter Mar 11 New moon Mar 19 First quarter Mar 26 Full moon Apr 02 -
Warnings
- Severe Storm Warning ( Rain, Winds & Hail) Hunter, Metropolitan, Illawarra, S Cst, C Tablelands, S Tablelands, Snowy Mtns, CW Slopes/Plains
- Severe Storm Warning ( Rain, Winds & Hail) Hunter, Metropolitan, Illawarra, S Cst, C Tablelands, S Tablelands, Snowy Mtns, CW Slopes/Plains
- Detailed Severe Thunderstorm Warning (Heavy Rainfall) for parts of Blue Mountains/Hawkesbury and Wollondilly/Wingecarribee areas
- Detailed Severe Thunderstorm Warning (Heavy Rainfall) for parts of Blue Mountains/Hawkesbury and Wollondilly/Wingecarribee areas
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Temperature for next 7 days
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Rain for next 7 days