Sydneysiders faced a chaotic commute home after severe thunderstorms smashed the city on Tuesday afternoon.

The storms brought heavy downpours, hail and gale force winds across the city and surrounding regions.

Winds began sweeping through Sydney‘s CBD around 3pm while hail stones fell in north Sydney just before 4pm.

The sudden change in temperature came after Sydney recorded its hottest day of the year so far. 

Sydney Airport recorded peak temperatures of 40.7C at 1pm before plummeting to 23.9C within three hours. 

Western suburbs including Penrith, Bankstown and Badgerys Creek also passed 40C before temperatures plummeted by more than 10C in under 20 minutes. 

The cool change was a result of a severe storm moving up from the south coast, likely to bring heavy wind, hail and lightning across Sydney and surrounding areas. 

A severe thunderstorm warning for Sydney and the Central Coast remained in place on Tuesday night as the wild weather continued.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Sarah Scully said damaging winds are highly likely to follow the storm. 

‘We do have a southerly change that’s expected to move up the east coast of NSW throughout the day… but that is bringing potentially very damaging winds with it,’ Scully told Nine News.

‘Also thunderstorms are expected with the change and they are potentially severe with heavy rainfall, damaging winds and large hail all a risk… the focus of the severe weather has shifted into NSW.’

The BoM said these winds ‘are expected to weaken below warning thresholds during the evening’ in its weather warning. 

‘Damaging winds averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts in excess of 90 km/h are likely along parts of the Sydney and Hunter coasts, including the Sydney enclosed waters, as the southerly change moves through over the next few hours,’ it wrote.

The thunderstorm started rolling over the city’s east before making its way towards Bondi and Manly by 4pm.

Residents have been advised to move their cars under cover to avoid the golf-ball sized hail and to not park them near any trees which might break apart in the winds. 

Items should be tied down or stored away to prevent them from travelling during the storm and the BoM has warned that creeks and storm drains have the potential of flooding. 

Any fallen power lines can be reported to Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy, Essential Energy or Evoenergy. 

Sydney 

Tuesday – Max 40 Afternoon cool change. Possible storm. Possible rainfall: 0 to 1 mm Chance of any rain: 40 per cent

Wednesday – Min 20 Max 25 Shower or two. Possible rainfall: 0 to 4 mm. Chance of any rain: 60 per cent.

Thursday – Min 20 Max 25 Shower or two. Possible rainfall: 0 to 7 mm Chance of any rain: 70 per cent.

Friday – Min 20 Max 26 Shower or two. Possible rainfall: 0 to 3 mm Chance of any rain: 60 per cent. 

Brisbane 

Tuesday – Max 32 Mostly sunny. Chance of any rain: 5 per cent.

Wednesday – Min 21 Max 32 Partly cloudy. Chance of any rain: 5 per cent.

Thursday – Min 22 Max 31 Partly cloudy. Chance of any rain: 10 per cent.

Friday – Min 23 Max 31 Partly cloudy. Chance of any rain: 20 per cent.

Melbourne 

Tuesday – Max 22 Cloudy. Chance of any rain: 10 per cent.

Wednesday – Min 15 Max 21 Partly cloudy. Chance of any rain: 5 per cent.Thursday – Min 14 Max 21 Cloudy. Chance of any rain: 10 per cent.  

Thursday – Min 14 Max 21 Cloudy. Chance of any rain: 10 per cent.

Friday – Min 15 per cent Max 22 per cent Cloudy. Chance of any rain: 5 per cent. 

Perth 

Tuesday – Max 37 Sunny. Chance of any rain: 0 per cent.

Wednesday – Min 24 Max 41 Sunny. Chance of any rain: 5 per cent.

Thursday – Min 26 Max 39 Sunny. Chance of any rain: 5 per cent. 

Friday – Min 22 Mac 36 Mostly Sunny. Chance of any rain: 5 per cent.  

Adelaide

Tuesday – Max 27 Becoming sunny. Chance of any rain: 5 per cent.

Wednesday – Min 14 Max 26 Mostly sunny. Chance of any rain: 0 per cent.

Thursday – Min 13 Max 27 Mostly sunny. Chance of any rain: 0 per cent.

Friday – Min 14 Max 31 Sunny. Chance of any rain: 0 per cent.  

Canberra

Tuesday – Max 37 Afternoon cool change. Possible storm. Chance of any rain: 30 per cent.

Wednesday – Min 13 Max 27 Partly cloudy. Chance of any rain: 10 per cent.

Thursday – Min 13 Max 28 Cloudy. Possible rainfall: 0 to 1 mm. Chance of any rain: 30 per cent.

Friday – Min 14 Max 26 Cloudy. Chance of any rain: 20 per cent. 

Hobart 

Tuesday – Max 20 Partly cloudy. Chance of any rain: 10 per cent.

Wednesday – Min 11 Max 22 Partly cloudy. Chance of any rain: 20 per cent.

Thursday – Min 12 Max 22 Possible late shower. Possible rainfall: 0 to 1 mm. Chance of any rain: 40 per cent.

Friday – Min 12 Max 23 Partly cloudy. Chance of any rain: 20 per cent.

Darwin 

Tuesday – Max 33 Shower or two. Possible storm. Possible rainfall: 0 to 10 mm. Chance of any rain: 70 per cent.

Wednesday – Min 26 Max 33 Showers. Possible storm. Possible rainfall: 0 to 15 mm. Chance of any rain: 80 per cent.

Thursday – Min 26 Max 33 Showers. Possible storm. Possible rainfall: 0 to 15 mm. Chance of any rain: 80 per cent.

Friday – Min 26 Max 33 Showers. Possible storm. Possible rainfall: 0 to 20 mm. Chance of any rain: 70 per cent.