Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in Northern Rivers, Northern Tablelands and parts of Mid North Coast and North West Slopes and Plains Forecast Districts.

Issued at 2:44 pm Saturday, 18 October 2025.

GIANT HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS POSSIBLE ABOUT NYMBOIDA, HEADING NORTHEAST TOWARDS GRAFTON

Weather Situation: A southerly change pushing up the northern NSW coast, and a surface trough extending inland, are both helping to initiate thunderstorms in the northeastern parts of the state this afternoon. Thunderstorms are expected to persist into the early evening.

VERY DANGEROUS THUNDERSTORMS are likely to produce large, possibly giant hailstones and damaging, locally destructive winds over the next several hours in parts of the Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast and Northern Tablelands districts. Locations which may be affected include Grafton, Nymboida, Coutts Crossing and Ulmarra.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce large hailstones and damaging winds over the next several hours in the Northern Rivers, Northern Tablelands and parts of the Mid North Coast and North West Slopes and Plains districts. Locations which may be affected include Lismore, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Armidale, Tenterfield, Glen Innes, Inverell, Byron Bay and Kyogle.

The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* Move your car under cover or away from trees.
* 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.
* Trees that have been damaged by fire are likely to be more unstable and more likely to fall.
* Unplug computers and appliances.
* Avoid using the phone during the storm.
* Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.
* Stay vigilant and monitor conditions. Note that the landscape may have changed following bushfires.
* For emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES (NSW and ACT) on 132 500.