article_snippet.sent: An unstable air mass over the top of New South Wales is understood to have generated the storm.
article_snippet.sent: The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for Sydney, Wollongong and the Blue Mountains just before 3:20pm (left), but by 4:15pm the severe storm had hit Sydney after coming in from the west (right)
article_snippet.sent: The Bureau of Meteorology warned that the Blue Mountains (pictured), Hawkesbury areas and Sydney would be affected by severe weather . '
article_snippet.sent: Twitter and Instagram users captured images of the storm: Lightning strikes in Sydney as the storm rolled in .
article_snippet.sent: The Blue Mountains, the Hawkesbury and most of Sydney were issued with severe weather warnings just before 4pm, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning Large areas of Sydney to expect 'large hailstones, heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and damaging winds'.
article_snippet.sent: the storm later moved north-west of Sydney, affecting the Maitland, Cessnock, Greater Newcastle, Gosford and Wyong areas before heading further north towards Newcastle and Williamtown.
article_snippet.sent: An unstable low air mass over the top of New South Wales is understood to have generated the storm over the afternoon, according to a Weather Watch spokesperson.
article_snippet.sent: Forecast for Sydney predict more bad weather at the end of the week, with State Emergency Services (SES) urging people to be prepared for the next bought of wild weather, including wild winds on Sunday. '
article_snippet.sent: A statement from State Emergency Services (SES) on Saturday night added: 'Strong winds are expected tomorrow in parts of Western Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Hawkesbury. '
highlights_snippet.sent: Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for Blue Mountains, the Hawkesbury and Sydney on Saturday afternoon .
  