Forecast

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 and Northern Tablelands Forecast Districts.

Issued at 2:05 am Sunday, 18 January 2026.

Heavy rainfall about Lake Macquarie and Newcastle. Isolated severe storms in the Northern Tablelands.

Weather Situation
A trough along central parts of the coast is generating areas of showers and isolated thunderstorms, with some of these delivering heavy rainfall. Isolated severe storms have developed about a trough in the Northern Tablelands.
HEAVY RAINFALL, DAMAGING WINDS and LARGE HAILSTONES for the following areas:
Hunter and Northern Tablelands
Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours in parts of the Hunter district. Locations which may be affected include Newcastle, Morisset, Wyong, Nelson Bay, Raymond Terrace and Wallsend.
Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours in parts of the Northern Tablelands district. Locations which may be affected include Emmaville.
Severe thunderstorms are no longer occurring in the Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast and Metropolitan districts and the warning for these districts is CANCELLED.
114 mm OF RAINFALL WAS RECORDED AT BLACKSMITHS IN THE 2.5 HOURS TO 01:00 AM SUNDAY.
108 mm OF RAINFALL WAS RECORDED AT SWANSEA IN THE 2.5 HOURS TO 12:50 AM SUNDAY.
114.2 mm of rainfall was recorded at Norah Head in the 3 hours to midnight.
97.8 mm of rainfall was recorded at Wangi Bowling Club in the 2.5 hours to 01:00 am Sunday.
84.0 mm of rainfall was recorded at Kangy Angy in the 3 hours to 11:30 pm Saturday.
Cancellation for the following areas:
Mid North Coast,Northern Rivers,Sydney Metropolitan

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 5:05 am.
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.

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 and Northern Tablelands Forecast Districts.

Issued at 2:05 am Sunday, 18 January 2026.

Heavy rainfall about Lake Macquarie and Newcastle. Isolated severe storms in the Northern Tablelands.

Weather Situation
A trough along central parts of the coast is generating areas of showers and isolated thunderstorms, with some of these delivering heavy rainfall. Isolated severe storms have developed about a trough in the Northern Tablelands.
HEAVY RAINFALL, DAMAGING WINDS and LARGE HAILSTONES for the following areas:
Hunter and Northern Tablelands
Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours in parts of the Hunter district. Locations which may be affected include Newcastle, Morisset, Wyong, Nelson Bay, Raymond Terrace and Wallsend.
Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours in parts of the Northern Tablelands district. Locations which may be affected include Emmaville.
Severe thunderstorms are no longer occurring in the Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast and Metropolitan districts and the warning for these districts is CANCELLED.
114 mm OF RAINFALL WAS RECORDED AT BLACKSMITHS IN THE 2.5 HOURS TO 01:00 AM SUNDAY.
108 mm OF RAINFALL WAS RECORDED AT SWANSEA IN THE 2.5 HOURS TO 12:50 AM SUNDAY.
114.2 mm of rainfall was recorded at Norah Head in the 3 hours to midnight.
97.8 mm of rainfall was recorded at Wangi Bowling Club in the 2.5 hours to 01:00 am Sunday.
84.0 mm of rainfall was recorded at Kangy Angy in the 3 hours to 11:30 pm Saturday.
Cancellation for the following areas:
Mid North Coast,Northern Rivers,Sydney Metropolitan

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 5:05 am.
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.