Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in Central Tablelands and parts of Hunter, Metropolitan, Illawarra, Southern Tablelands, North West Slopes and Plains, Central West Slopes and Plains, South West Slopes and Riverina Forecast Districts.

Issued at 4:48 pm Saturday, 21 March 2026.

VERY DANGEROUS THUNDERSTORM COMPLEXES WITH INTENSE RAINFALL, LARGE HAILSTONES AND DAMAGING WINDS OVER CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN TABLELANDS. Severe thunderstorms with heavy rainfall, and possible damaging wind gusts and large hail continue.

Weather Situation: An upper-level trough combines with a surface trough over the southern half of the state to produce slow moving thunderstorms today. Storms are moving slowly towards the north.

VERY DANGEROUS THUNDERSTORMS are likely to produce heavy, locally intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding, damaging wind gusts and large hailstones over the next several hours in parts of the Metropolitan, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, Hunter, Illawarra and South West Slopes districts. Locations which may be affected include Katoomba, Yass, Penrith, Lithgow, Jenolan Caves and Springwood.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding, and possible damaging wind gusts and large hailstones over the next several hours in the Central Tablelands and parts of the Hunter, Metropolitan, Illawarra, Southern Tablelands, North West Slopes and Plains, Central West Slopes and Plains, South West Slopes and Riverina districts. Locations which may be affected include Goulburn, Dubbo, Mudgee, Katoomba, Yass and Parkes.

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

5 CM HAIL WAS RECORDED AT PENRITH AT 4:00 PM.

91 km/h was recorded at Western Sydney Airport at 3:42 pm.

32.5 MM WAS RECORDED AT GOULBURN IN THE 30 MINUTES TO 2:57 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).