As the warmth of a spring day dropped, hail stones measuring up to one centimetre in width descended upon Gloucester this afternoon for a 20 minute deluge, followed by torrential rain and thunder.
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National Parks and Wildlife's Sean Thompson said he had been watching the storm cell forming over Gloucester for the past few hours.
A weather warning was issued by the Bureau of Meteorology soon after the storm began.
"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 Taree, Cessnock and Maitland."
The Bureau of Meteorology's Miranda Langton said that it was an isolated storm which began just south of and directly over Gloucester before heading north.
"Throughout the day we had a westerly wind meet a easterly wind, the air can't go anywhere but up, so up it goes. Quite a bit of moisture was involved and warm temperatures during the day helped to kickstart it. There was quite a strong updraft, which leads to a hail formation," she said.
Eventually the clouds are unable to bear the heavy weight of the hail particles, which fall to earth.
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 clear of fallen power lines.
- * Unplug computers and appliances.
- * Avoid using the phone during the storm.
- * Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.
- * For emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES (NSW and ACT) on 132 500.
