Thousands left without power as storm hits Sydney
More than 30,000 properties were left without power and a number of major roads flooded as severe thunderstorms hit Sydney on Thursday night, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning more rain is on the way.
The storm front moved across Sydney in the early evening, bringing heavy rains and damaging winds, with 40 millimetres of rain recorded at Auburn in just 30 minutes, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
The city's south-west was also hit, with 38.8mm of rain recorded at Campbelltown since 9am on Thursday, while 41.6mm was recorded at Horsley Park.
Endeavour Energy emergency crews were attempting to restore power to more than 30,000 homes and businesses in the Blue Mountains, western Sydney and the Illawarra after lightning and damaging winds lashed the areas.
Some people in Warragamba, Silverdale and Wallacia in Sydney's west were expected to be without power overnight due to the widespread damage of the storm, Endeavour Energy said in a statement.
Work to restore power went well into the night.
Flooding hit at least two major metropolitan roads – Parramatta Road at Homebush, and the Princes Highway at Blakehurst, where two of three southbound lanes were closed.
The State Emergency Service (SES) conducted seven flood rescues with motorists trapped in cars after flash flooding.
"The message we are trying to get out today is to not drive through flood water, there are more heavy rains forecast so we want people to avoid unnecessary travel," NSW SES media officer Phil Schafer said.
Wind gusts of up to 107km/h were recorded at Coonamble in the central western plains and 105km/h in Narrabri.
The SES also responded to nearly 700 calls for assistance, mainly for damage to roofs, trees down and flooding in homes.
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the eastern part of the state but the threat was reduced by around 9pm.
But a severe weather warning for heavy rain remains in place for parts of the south coast and Snowy Mountains on Friday.
The Sydney storm cell was part of a long line of severe thunderstorms that moved through the Sydney basin, Hunter and Illawarra.
Another eight to 20 millimetres of rain is forecast to fall in Sydney on Friday, with a top of 27 degrees forecast.
Meantime, Queensland's far north is battening down ahead of the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Owen, but that's taking longer than expected, leaving residents with a nervous wait.
Owen has been tracking over the Gulf of Carpenteria for the last few days, reintensifying on Thursday into a category three with authorities predicting it could reach category four overnight into Friday.
Owen was expected to head back towards the Queensland coast by Friday but that hadn't yet happened.
"The U-turn has taken a little bit slower and is a little bit further to the coast than we were expecting yesterday," the Bureau of Meteorology's Laura Boekel said.
"Systems in this area are notoriously erratic and move quite quickly and the situation can move quite quickly as well."
Victorians are also being told to watch for more flooding as the state gets deluged with record rains.
A flash flood warning was issued for Wangaratta, Byawatha and surrounding areas including the Hume Freeway on Thursday night and authorities are bracing for continued high water levels on Friday.
People are reminded not to drive through floodwater, after 120 people needed rescuing from the Hume Freeway south of Wangaratta, including 17 by helicopter.
All up, 400-500 vehicles were impacted by floodwaters on the Hume Freeway, according to the alert.
More than a month's worth of rain has fallen across parts of Victoria and the wild weather is expected to continue through Friday.
With AAP