As 12,000 families in NSW struggle without power following a freak storm, those on the other side of the country are battling sweltering temperatures.
Parts of Western Australia have been battling an extreme heatwave, with temperatures rocketing toward 50C as a week-long heatwave grips the nation.
Western Australia sizzles
Near-record heat was forecast to hit north-western Australia this weekend, with temperatures expected to reach near 50C in some parts of the west Pilbara district.
A scorching 46.2C was clocked yesterday in Learmonth as a break in the monsoon allows a hot air mass to build up above.
Severe weather brings destruction in Sydney
Trees were brought down across the city hammered by ferocious winds, rain and lightning, with 12,000 families waking this morning across Sydney, the Central Coast and Hunter Valley, still without power.
NSW State Emergency Service said the hardest-hit areas included Sydney metro, Hawkesbury, Auburn and Sutherland, with 789 calls for help across the state.
Trains have also resumed on the T1 North Shore Line from Gordon to Hornsby and the T9 Northern Line from Hornsby to Epping following multiple trees on the track.
Storm activity appears to have passed, and Sydneysiders can expect a partly cloudy day with a top of 27C.
Elsewhere, it’s forecast to be 27°C in Melbourne, Brisbane 31°C, Perth 34°C, Adelaide 31°C, Hobart 28°C, Canberra 31°C and Darwin 32°C.
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