Over 40,000 people lost power today as severe storms swept through Sydney. The storms formed due to a combination of an upper trough passing overhead with a surface Southerly change moving up the coast. With ample moisture still in the air, it didn't take long before severe storm warnings were put out by the BOM for flash flooding across Sydney, Illawarra and the Hunter. More reports and photos by clicking 'read more' below.

I went for a small local chase during my lunchbreak today. Started at a great vantage point on Galston Rd watching the rapid development to my south. Initially it was mostly dark bases moving steadily north towards me until just after Midday when one cell towards Baulkham Hills started to form a Shelf cloud on it's north flank. Over the next 20 minutes the shelf cloud went from a few fingers prodding out the front to a full blown thick layered shelf cloud. Quite a rapid transition no doubt helped by the strong outflow winds combined with the southerly forcing lifting as it moved north. Photo Sequence is below.

Eventually the shelf cloud moved nearly overhead. Time for me to move north as the first few cool gusts from the south rustled the tree leaves above. One more shot taken looking south.

I headed up the Old Northern Road to Wisemans Ferry where I watched as new development went up ahead of the main - now weaking a little - line. There was no chance for me to chase it north unless I wanted to drive the windy roads with no views to St Albans, so I called it a day (or long lunch?) and headed back home. Picture below of the storm approaching Wisemans Ferry followed by a shot of the new developing base in front.