Parts of Australia’s east coast were battered with severe thunderstorms and massive hail on Good Friday – with many residents urged to stay indoors.
Sydneysiders were enjoying a sunny 24C day before the weather quickly turned into a vicious thunderstorm late on Friday afternoon bringing heavy wind gusts and lightning.
South-eastern parts of Queensland were also in the firing line with the Bureau of Meteorology warning two ‘very dangerous thunderstorm cells’ were moving through the Somerset region.
Hailstones up to 11cm wide were seen in the Darling Downs region, while hail as big as 8cm fell in Haden, in the Toowoomba region.
However, those planning an Easter Sunday barbecue are in luck with showers expected to clear on Saturday across most of Australia.
Australia’s east coast was battered with sudden thunderstorms and severe hail on Good Friday (pictured in Marsden Park, Sydney)
Sydneysiders saw a mild 24C quickly transform into a vicious thunderstorm with huge hail falling from the sky (pictured)
Lightning is seen striking down in Gunnamatta, Cronulla on Friday evening
Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino said southeastern Australia was copping the worst of the weather.
‘An upper-level trough passing over southeastern Australia on Friday will cause the atmosphere to become unstable and primed for severe thunderstorms,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘This volatile weather pattern will result in widespread showers and thunderstorms over central and southeast Queensland, eastern and southern NSW, the ACT and Victoria.’
The BOM issued a severe thunderstorm warning for residents in Sydney, the Blue Mountains, and Wollongong at 8.20pm on Friday.
Residents across Sydney, including in Kellyville, and in Bowral, in southern NSW, shared footage of hail lashing down on their homes.
Meanwhile, the SES urged those in the Greater Wollongong area to stay indoors away from windows and keep cars away from trees as a storm battered the NSW south coast.
Hailstones at a size of 6cm were reported in Yass, south-west of Sydney, while wind gusts of 104 km/h were felt in Cabramurra, in NSW’s western Snowy Mountains.
A hailstorm in Sydney is seen on Friday evening
The State Emergency Service is advising those in the Greater Wollongong area to stay indoors away from windows and keep cars away from trees as a storm batters the NSW south coast
In Queensland, Crows Nest and Somerset in the state’s south-east were put on alert as dangerous thunderstorms swept through.
A 104km/h wind gust was recorded at Oakey in the Toowoomba region, while Blackwater in central QLD, saw winds up to 98km/h.
Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra – are expected to see storms clear in time for Saturday.
But for those in Melbourne hoping to spend the long weekend outside, the wet weather is forecast to hang around the Victorian capital until Tuesday.
Tasmanians are also in for a wet Easter with the sun not expected to come out in Hobart until next Wednesday.
Sydney will be mostly sunny on Saturday with tops of 25C forecast.
Canberra has a chance of showers over Saturday with a dry but cool day forecast for Easter Sunday with tops of just 15C on the horizon.
Meanwhile Brisbane residents wouldn’t know the seasons have changed with temperatures to soar in the late 20s and early 30s over the weekend and next week – with no rain in sight.
Adelaide may see some showers on Saturday but a dry and cloudy day is in store for Easter.
On the other side of the country Perth will be warm and sunny with tops of 25C forecast over each day of the long weekend.
Darwin is in its wet season with storms and temperatures in the low 30s forecast.
Hail battered down in Sydney and Wollongong on Friday to the shock of many Aussies
Sydneysiders were quick to share photos of the sudden battering on Friday. Pictured is hail in Kellyville
A not so Good Friday! Shocked Aussies were surprised by the sudden hailstorm on Friday. Pictured in Bowral, southern NSW
Meanwhile, those heading to the airport have been warned they’ll likely be facing long queues before their weekend getaways.
Sydney Airport predicts it will see some 120,000 passengers this weekend.
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‘It certainly is busy here this morning and air travel is booming this Easter period. We’ve got so many more staff this year. Last year we lost so many jobs out of the industry, especially here at Sydney Airport,’ Sydney Airport general manager operations Greg Hay told Today.
‘But we’ve rebuilt our teams over the last little while. The teams have got all re-skilled again and we’re back and ready for this Easter period.’
Meanwhile, Melbourne Airport is set to handle 2.1million passengers this Easter.
People flying domestically have been urged to arrive an hour or two before their flight while international travellers should arrive two to three hours before.
Airports asked customers to arrive no earlier than recommended to avoid overcrowding.
Weatherzone issued its own warning to travellers, saying: ‘Some flights may also be affected by Friday’s stormy weather.’
Storms are forecast to hit Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane from Friday afternoon
Eastern Australia is set to be hit by a ‘very dangerous supercell’ on Good Friday (pictured, the severe weather warning zone)
