A tornado has been spotted sweeping across central New South Wales, where a severe thunderstorm warning has been issued.
The tornado was pictured from a Rural Fire Service fire tower looking northwest of Young on Wednesday afternoon.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Rare tornado and severe storms lash Sydney.
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The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed it had been “observed” about 3.30pm.
NSW RFS inspector James Morris said it was largely by chance that it was spotted.
“The towers were being monitored because a cell coming through was producing a significant lightning band,” Morris told www.20304050.best.
“That was of concern because of the potential for grass fires.”
It is not yet clear exactly how long the tornado lasted but Morris believes it was probably only a matter of minutes.
Beyond some fallen trees, the RFS is not expecting significant damage given “we haven’t had a lot of calls about it”.
A severe thunderstorm warning is currently in place for parts of the Hunter, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, Central West Slopes and Plains and South West Slopes regions.
People in these areas have been warned to prepare for damaging winds, large hail and heavy rain.
“A cold front attached to a low pressure system is moving eastwards through central parts of the state, producing severe thunderstorms this afternoon and early evening,” BOM warned.
“Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours.
“Locations which may be affected include Orange, Bathurst, Yass, Young, Morisset and Oberon.”
Heavy city rain
It comes as Sydney prepared for storms which could “become severe” across the metro area.
“(It) means they do have the potential to bring those damaging wind gusts, the heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding,” senior BOM meteorologist Miriam Bradbury told 7NEWS.
A lightning strike knocked out power to the Metro, leaving train passengers stranded at Chatswood for an hour.
The SES was called to the Royal National Park when rising waters left three bushwalkers stranded.
Since 9am, more than 50mm of rain has fallen at Campbelltown. There has been more than 33mm in the city.
Sydney has already reached its average September rainfall of 68mm just 10 days into the month.
“We could see another 15-40mm in the gauges across the city, depending on exactly where those thunderstorms track,” Bradbury said.
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