Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in Mid North Coast, Hunter, North West Slopes and Plains and parts of Central Tablelands, Central West Slopes and Plains and Upper Western Forecast Districts.

Issued at 7:01 pm Friday, 17 October 2025.

Severe thunderstorms continue moving to the northeast into the early evening.

Weather situation: A warm, moist and unstable environment is interacting with a surface trough to generate severe thunderstorms across eastern and northern parts of the state. Severe storms are likely to persist into the evening, moving to the northeast ahead of an approaching southerly wind change that that has pushed through Sydney and will progress further north through the Hunter in the coming hours.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce large hailstones and damaging winds in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Taree, Newcastle, Moree, Scone, Maitland, Gunnedah, Narrabri, Kempsey, Mungindi and Coonabarabran.

Severe thunderstorms are no longer occurring in the Metropolitan district and the warning for this district is CANCELLED.

2 cm hailstones were reported at Gilgandra and Balladoran around 5:15 pm

4 cm hailstones were reported at Stuart Town around 4:50 pm

2 cm hailstones were reported at Gulargambone around 4:30 pm

3 cm hailstones were reported at Engadine around 4:20 pm

3 cm hailstones were reported at Molong around 3:45 pm

3 cm hailstones were reported at Moorland around 3:15 pm

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.