A TRAMPOLINE left residents in several Maitland suburbs without power as a severe thunderstorms hit the region.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ausgrid confirmed that 500 people around Bolwarra Heights and Largs lost power shortly before 4pm on Monday due to the airborne play equipment on Glenarvon Road.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s severe storm warning focused on the mid-north coast including Armidale, Tamworth, Tabulam, Dorrigo, Uralla and Bendemeer, but also warned parts of the Hunter could face severe conditions.
State Emergency Service after hours duty officer Mandy Bramble said shortly after 5pm the service had only received a handful of call-outs including fallen tree limbs at Tenambit.
“I believe one was over a fence and the other was in a laneway,” she said.
Other calls included leaks exposed during the rainfall.
Bureau readings at 5pm showed Merriwa, Murrrurundi, Nobbys and Scone Airport all recorded gusts over 50km/hr on Monday.
But it was parts of Maitland where the most reports of wreckage emerged, with dumpsters overturned and trampolines, trees and gazebos contorted in the conditions.
“There was a large tree down across Blackley Avenue Raworth...lots of missing colourbond panels from fences, stray trampolines and roof tiles,” Maitland Mercury reader Kathryn Blackmore wrote.
The unlucky trampoline caused outages for Bolwarra, Largs, Lorn, Pitnacree, Raworth and East Maitland.
A separate outage also left about 20 Windella households in the dark.
The Hunter blackouts were among storm-related issues across the state. Ausgrid estimated 7000 people in the Hunter, Central Coast and Sydney were left without electricity at 5pm.
“Emergency crews [are] working to make the network safe,” the utility provider said in a statement on social media.
A severe thunderstorm is defined as one that produces hail more than 2cm in diameter, damaging wind gusts exceeding 90km/hr, heavy rainfall that can cause flash flooding or a tornado.
“Most thunderstorms do not reach the level of intensity needed to produce these dangerous phenomena so the Bureau of Meteorology does not warn for all thunderstorms,” the weather body says on its website.
Has the storm hit where you are? Email news@theherald.com.au
The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* Move your car under cover or away from trees.
* Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
* Keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.
* Report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid on 131 388, or Endeavour Energy on 131 003 or Essential Energy on 132 080, as shown on your power bill.
* Unplug computers and appliances.
* Avoid using the phone during the storm.
* Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.
* For emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES (NSW and ACT) on 132 500.
Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts, the Bureau's website at www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 218. The Bureau and State Emergency Service would appreciate warnings being broadcast regularly.