When intense weather strikes, Sydneysiders are known to freak out a little.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for parts of New South Wales on Wednesday morning, with destructive winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall detected.
DETAILED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING UPDATED https://t.co/kl3X1P5Ueu #SydneyStorm pic.twitter.com/Trf2uoIDgU— BOM New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) December 16, 2015
Wind gusts of 213 km/h (132 mph) were recorded in the south Sydney suburb of Kurnell at around 10:30 a.m. local time, speeds associated with a "possible tornado" according to the Bureau of Meteorology. The bureau said it was the highest ever wind gusts recorded on their equipment in the state.
Houses in the area had severe damage to their roofs, with trees and debris strewn across the roads.
In the meantime, mega hailstones have descended in the southern Sydney area -- some looking like blowfish, or a medieval club-like weapon.
Hail around Kurnell - huge, and deadly-looking. #sydneystorms (pic via lovely lady from a church in the area) pic.twitter.com/mqvdpdLB92— Sam Buckingham-Jones (@SamEBJones) December 16, 2015
Just a little bit hail @BOM_nsw #sydney #hail #sydneystorm @smh @newscomauHQ @ Cronulla Beach pic.twitter.com/7hYSmeFC1L— Rebecca Murphy (@rebeccamurphy) December 16, 2015
While in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, but still on the coast, Bondi has also felt the brunt of stormy weather, as captured by social media users.
Tornado warned storm #Sydney #tornado #hail pic.twitter.com/w7A7BOpshC— Nick Moir (@nampix) December 16, 2015
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
Not to be outdone, check out these intense winds slightly down south in La Perouse, captured at the N.S.W. Golf Club. There have also been reports of wheelie bins flying around.
#NSWGC #sydneystorm A video posted by Nixon Gill (@nixonnixoff) on Dec 15, 2015 at 3:48pm PST
Dark and eerie storm clouds moved closer toward North Sydney during the late morning, darkening Sydney Harbour.
Bit stormy #sydneystorm #storm #tornado #sydneyweather #northsydney #battendownthehatches A photo posted by Nick Jones (@yeah_nick) on Dec 15, 2015 at 4:33pm PST
Passengers caught in gridlock on the way to Sydney Airport decided to abandon cars and taxis, and walked to the airport.
.@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
The roof of shopping centre Westfield Bondi Junction also partly collapsed, with water leaking into the venue and shoppers evacuated.
Due to the storms in Sydney, Westfield Bondi has been evacuated. This has effected our cinema. Will provide updates as they become available— Event Cinemas (@eVent_cinemas) December 16, 2015
@theprojecttv The Roof at Westfield Bondi has collapsed and has been subsequently evacuated pic.twitter.com/iAlrqQTayc— Harry Carr (@harrycarr_) December 16, 2015
In good news, it passed late on Wednesday afternoon. So Sydney, take a breath and calm yourselves. The hell is over.