SYDNEY STORM: Homes Flattened In Kurnell, Westfield Bondi’s Roof Caves In

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Published

December 16, 2015

Bloody hell, Sydney. Is everyone alright?

The metro region of the nation’s biggest city copped an absolute battering all throughout the day, as a series of severe, dangerous thunderstorms brought sheets of rain, enormous hail, and even what the Bureau of Meteorology has determined to be a freaking actual tornado with it.

The cause of it all was this nasty bastard that struck the city area at around 11am this morning.

OK for once I think it’s fine to freak out about the weather. Never seen this before. #sydneystorm pic.twitter.com/aD8oggSieP

— Paul Colgan (@Colgo) December 15, 2015

Severe Thunderstorm on the way
#sydneystorm
https://t.co/8WnfaYhl97 pic.twitter.com/arTpJNX1oa

— 702 ABC Sydney (@702sydney) December 15, 2015

This was followed by a second wave of severe storms that swept across the region around 4 hours later.

#NSW Updated warning for round 2 of severe storms for Sydney https://t.co/JVvecprnaY @BOM_au #sydneystorm pic.twitter.com/4BOz77kQQ8

— ABC Emergency (@ABCemergency) December 16, 2015

The storms brought peach-sized hail stones that pelted the area.

Hail the size of golf balls hit NSW #SydneyStorm https://t.co/MZjTFNQfTc pic.twitter.com/jOg9w6uObN

— The Daily Telegraph (@dailytelegraph) December 16, 2015

Sydney battered by freak thunderstorm bringing TORNADOES @DailyMailAU #SydneyStorm pic.twitter.com/H02FLQ0U0B

— Menzi Kulati (@menzikulati) December 16, 2015

6cm diameter hail in Cronulla. Photo via Lilly Rowan. Latest warnings: https://t.co/pDZkYbkdGS #7News pic.twitter.com/vm8VPG9pvy

— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) December 16, 2015

And it brought Sydney Airport to a complete standstill, grounding all outgoing flights, and forcing those caught in the air to either remain in holding patterns, or divert to Melbourne.

Operations at @SydneyAirport at a literal standstill. Nothing going out. Incoming aircraft are holding #sydneystorm pic.twitter.com/Rm53PBFL2I

— Peter Hinton (@peterjhinton) December 16, 2015

Lightning over Sydney Airport today during the powerful storm that hit. #SydneyStorm pic.twitter.com/xs7TNgzbX5

— Daniel Roy Timms (@danielroytimms) December 16, 2015

‘Course operations at the airport weren’t aided by unusually bad traffic in the area…

Traffic has been terrible all morning around @SydneyAirport – concerns it will get worse after #sydneystorms. pic.twitter.com/Owc0E4atSK

— 702 ABC Sydney (@702sydney) December 16, 2015

…which forced people to take drastic measures in order to get to their (probably delayed) flights on time.

.@guardianaus reader Claire Milet took this, of people getting out of cars to walk to #SydneyAirport in #sydneystorm pic.twitter.com/7GbkszdJcp

— (Joyeux No)Elle Hunt (@mlle_elle) December 16, 2015

But the storm, in general, provided for some utterly spectacular scenes, particularly as the supercell began rolling over the Sydney skyline.

Mother Nature at her finest! Cleansing us in such grace and beauty! #bondistorms #harrysbondi #mothernature #shelter #beauty #bondi #northbondi

A photo posted by Harry’s Bondi (@harrysbondi) on Dec 15, 2015 at 4:10pm PST

The view from #HuntersHill as the #SydneyStorm rolls in. Incredible! pic.twitter.com/NAHYGlypdp

— Julian Ridden (@EduRidden) December 16, 2015

And they packed a punch. The entire Westfield at Bondi Junction had to be evacuated, after the might of the storm caused parts of the centre’s roof to cave in, with plaster falling around shoppers.

Fortunately, no one was seriously injured.

.@Sandra_Sully Bondi Junction Westfield evacuated as storms break through roof over food court. pic.twitter.com/QKE1zHshYc

— Ty (@AussieGamr) December 16, 2015

Westfield Bondi Junction evacuated after storm causes partial roof collapse. https://t.co/zIjNWnsWHs #9News pic.twitter.com/ym3CZlrMWM

— Nine News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) December 16, 2015

Shoppers sent scrambling after Westfield Bondi Junction roof collapses in storm https://t.co/UziMNvr4jy pic.twitter.com/pzAPiUnNjx

— Daily Mail Australia (@DailyMailAU) December 16, 2015

Completely deserted in a usually bustling part of Bondi Junction Westfield following partial roof collapse @2GBNews pic.twitter.com/7d77tltTyA

— Laura Parr (@LauraKParr) December 16, 2015

But the coup de grace of the storm occurred in the bayside suburb of Kurnell, who bore the full force of the hectic supercell.

The Bureau of Meteorology believes a tornado touched town in the area, leaving a horrific path of destruction as it tore roofs clean off houses and inflicted widespread damage.

The BoM estimates that wind gusts of up to a staggering 213 km/h lashed the area – a reading that, if proven, would smash the previous record for high winds in New South Wales.

Kurnell without power, sewerage until tomorrow, 30 homes damaged. (Picture: @NSWSES) https://t.co/fYQSSnsyMl pic.twitter.com/esjbfIowie

— SBS News (@SBSNews) December 16, 2015

Residents are able to return to their Kurnell homes after a tornado ripped through the area https://t.co/BineoR2b6p pic.twitter.com/oAIf4VKrOO

— ABC News Sydney (@abcnewsSydney) December 16, 2015

Tornado weaves trail of destruction through Kurnell. https://t.co/NcTmql2aAB #9News pic.twitter.com/HSnbeFy6Vy

— Nine News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) December 16, 2015

Photos by @PeterRaeSMH who’s currently in Kurnell. #SydneyStorm blog: https://t.co/zeukRGCZhT pic.twitter.com/uEUfPo7iDv

— smh.com.au (@smh) December 16, 2015

SYDNEY STORMS | 20+ #FRNSW crews assisting @NSWSES at KURNELL. Crews have attended 60+ storm incidents so far. pic.twitter.com/N1J9Qel3SB

— Fire & Rescue NSW (@FRNSW) December 16, 2015

More of the damage in Bridges St, #kurnell #sydneystorm. @abcnews pic.twitter.com/KRkdW0g72O

— Nick Dole (@NicholasDole) December 16, 2015

SES crews are attending the scene. Evacuated residents have been allowed to return to their homes to assess the damage.

‘Course despite all of this, Sydneysiders have still found time to have a bit of a laugh at their own expense.

No surprise that I’ve formed in the vicinity of Sydney considering how much bloody hot air they’re producing down there!

— Sydney Tornado (@SydneyTornado) December 16, 2015

Good luck with the clean up, pals. x

Photo: Harry’s Bondi/Instagram.