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Severe thunderstorms to hit NSW on Friday

Intense thunderstorms are likely to pummel parts of NSW on Friday, with damaging winds, large hail and heavy rain all a risk.

A cold front and associated low pressure trough will sweep across NSW on Friday, causing a relatively cool air mass travelling from the south to clash with a much warmer air mass over NSW.

An upper-level trough passing over southeastern Australia on Friday will also help to destabilise the atmosphere, resulting in an outbreak of thunderstorms across central and northeastern parts of the state.

A few isolated showers and storms will develop over the state's south and west early on Friday. However, the day’s main thunderstorm activity will build over central NSW from the late morning and early afternoon, including Sydney, before spreading into the state’s northeast in the afternoon and evening

Image: Forecast accumulated rain on Friday, showing the areas that could see showers or thunderstorms.

Sydney will be dry and warm on Friday morning and is forecast to reach a top of 32°C in the afternoon, which would make it the city’s warmest day since March. This heat could help storms develop over the Sydney Basin in the afternoon and evening.

Damaging winds and large hail will be the main threats with any severe storms in NSW on Friday. Heavy rain and flooding are less of a risk compared to wind and hail, although isolated bursts of intense rain are likely under some storm cells.

Isolated supercell thunderstorms are also possible on Friday, particularly over central eastern NSW. If these supercells do form, they may cause destructive wind gusts in excess of 125 km/h and giant hail measuring more than 5cm in diameter.

Severe thunderstorm warnings will be issued throughout Friday as storms develop across the state. Be sure to check the latest warnings in your area before heading outdoors, particularly in the afternoon and evening.