A thunderstorm – with fierce lightning and heavy rain, has put a stop to the city’s New Years Eve celebrations.
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Maitland council was forced to cancel its event on the riverbank just before the 9pm fireworks display.
In a Facebook post the council said “due to the ongoing thunderstorms, we have unfortunately had to cancel the event and tonight’s fireworks”.
Just after 8pm the council wrote another post that warned revellers of the storm and urged them to take shelter.
The council’s annual celebration had kicked off at 5pm with a range of entertainment for the whole family.
The 9pm fireworks display was the grand finale, and usually attracts large crowds.
Earlier on Monday the Bureau of Meterology issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the Hunter, and much of NSW.
The BOM radar showed the eye of the storm passed directly over Maitland, bringing a lightning show and heavy rain to end 2018.
