Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Heavy Rainfall Issued for Hunter and Mid North Coast Districts

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning (IDN21033) for heavy rainfall. This high-priority alert is currently in effect for parts of the Mid North Coast and Hunter Forecast Districts in New South Wales.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers the northern Hunter and southern Mid North Coast regions. Locations that may be impacted by these conditions include Gloucester, Barrington Tops, and Dungog.

Notably, the Bureau has cancelled previous warnings for the South West Slopes, Riverina, and Snowy Mountains districts, as severe thunderstorms are no longer occurring in those areas.

What You Should Do

The State Emergency Service (SES) advises residents in the warning area to take the following precautions:

• Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
• Do not walk, ride a bike, or drive through flood water.
• If trapped by flash flooding, seek refuge in the highest available place and call 000 for rescue.
• Stay indoors and away from windows; ensure children and pets remain inside as well.
• For emergency assistance during floods or storms, contact the SES at 132 500.

Expected Conditions

A line of slow-moving showers and thunderstorms is persisting over the affected regions, generating locally heavy falls. These storms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours. Significant accumulation has already been recorded, including 73 mm at the Dungog Post Office within a two-hour window ending at 8:57 am.

Timeline

The alert was issued at 11:24 am Thursday, 19 March 2026. The current warning phase is an update, with the next official update scheduled to be issued by 2:25 pm. Residents are encouraged to monitor the Hazards Near Me NSW app or the BOM website for further developments, especially if storms move toward the Sydney, Newcastle, or Wollongong areas.