Australia Weather News

A man has died and thousands are without power as severe thunderstorms pass across New South Wales.

The man, believed to be in his 80s, died after a tree fell on his car in the NSW Central West town of Cowra on Wednesday afternoon.

The Bureau of Meteorology says very dangerous thunderstorms will likely continue to produce damaging, locally destructive winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding into Thursday.

Much of south-eastern NSW has been impacted, including the Illawarra, South Coast, Metropolitan, Hunter, Central Tablelands, and Southern Tablelands districts.

Emergency services in the ACT were inundated with calls for assistance when thunderstorms swept through Canberra at peak hour on Wednesday evening.

Meanwhile, severe thunderstorms were also predicted across parts of the Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast, Snowy Mountains, South West Slopes, North West Slopes and Plains, Central West Slopes and Plains, Northern Tablelands and Upper Western forecast districts.

Wind gusts of 120kph were recorded at Trangie west of Dubbo at 4:30pm, 106kph at Wagga Wagga just after 2pm and 113kph at Cabrumurra just before 3:30pm.

More than 10,000 people lost power in Wagga Wagga and surrounding towns on Wednesday afternoon.

In a text message sent to affected customers, Essential Energy said there had been "significant damage" to the electricity network.

Thousands are still without power in Mudgee, west of Batemans Bay, around Coonabarabran and Gulgong, while hundreds have been affected outside of Yass, around Cowra and near Walgett.

The NSW RFS said significant lightning activity and strong winds brought down trees, power lines and damaged roofs across the state.

Four saved from building flip

Ambulance NSW acting Riverina duty operations manager Amy Barclay said paramedics responded to a call in the Wagga Wagga suburb of Bomen where four people had become trapped in a demountable building after it flipped in strong wind gusts.

"All four patients have relatively minor injuries, just with some bruises, some lacerations and some sore limbs," she said.

"They responded quite well … They had verbal communication even when we couldn't see them initially."

Ms Barclay said they were lucky the injuries were not serious.

"I think they were very happy when they got out," she said.

The State Emergency Service (SES) said it had so far responded to more than 130 incidents across the state.

Southern Zone Duty Commander Shane Hargrave said people and properties had been impacted.

"Trees on cars and also some demountable buildings that have been moved due to the strength of the wind," he said.

Mr Hargrave said people needed to remain careful.

"Please use caution when you are out on the roads," he said.

"Please wait if you are stuck, please make those phone calls.

"We do urge the community to please prepare your properties, tie down those loose items and clean gutters before any of these storms come through."

Wagga Wagga local Stephanie Day said the wind had caused significant damage to her mother's garden.

"She's lost her chook house and her bird aviary. Thankfully no feathered friends were inhabiting it at the time," she said.

"It's been a crazy, windy whirlwind that's come through there."

Heavy rain, flash flooding, hail and damaging winds are expected to continue through to Thursday across much of the state.