Hailstorm batters western NSW as homes destroyed in bushfire
Mudgee was hit by a heavy hailstorm while other parts of the region were still burning. (Supplied: David Kelly)
In short:
The NSW SES received 29 call-outs in the western region after a hailstorm hit the district.
Heavy rain from the cell helped fire crews battling a nearby blaze that destroyed three homes.
What's next?
Further storms are expected to hit NSW on Friday with the weather bureau warning of flash flooding.
A hailstorm has battered parts of the New South Wales central west as a nearby community grapples with the loss of homes from a bushfire that is still burning.
The State Emergency Service (SES) logged 29 calls for assistance in the western region, nine of which came from Mudgee.
The cell brought heavy rain, damaging winds and widespread hail.
"There was certainly a significant storm that came across," SES Superintendent Annabelle Watson said.
"A lot of our work came from hail in Mudgee, resulting in a bit of damage to roofs and some skylights."
Ms Watson praised the actions of community members within the region.
"It is great to see the community are well prepared and reaching out when needed," she said.
The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting storm conditions to continue on Friday, with a warning for flash flooding in parts of metropolitan Sydney, the Hunter, Central Coast and Central Tablelands.
A blanket of hail fell at Tucklan, near Dunedoo, in the NSW Central West. (Supplied: Teagan Large)
Elsewhere, the storms caused a power outage that affected nearly 3,000 people in Coonamble, Gulargambone, Armatree, and Quambone about 6pm Thursday.
Power was restored to customers by 8:30pm.
Essential Energy crews are still investigating the cause of isolated outages reported overnight in the Walgett Shire, which affected about 150 people.
Hailstones were quick to pile up around Mudgee. (Supplied: Louise Burke)
Bushfire damage
Meanwhile, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS) said three homes were destroyed in a blaze burning south of Mudgee, on the state's central tablelands.
Three homes were destroyed in a blaze at Bogee near Lithgow. (Supplied: NSW Rural Fire Service)
The Home Hills Road fire at Bogee is being brought under control after burning almost 650 hectares since it started on Tuesday.
Building assessment crews said three houses and one outbuilding were destroyed, while a further three structures were damaged.
"It is always devastating when we lose homes," RFS Cudgegong district spokesperson Kennedy Porter said.
"The firefighters on the ground were faced with some really, really difficult conditions so they did an incredible job.
"At the time we really thought that more would have been lost.
"The terrain itself was extremely difficult to get in to protect these properties."
The Home Hills Road fire has burnt almost 650 hectares since it started on Tuesday. (Supplied: Gulgong Fire and Rescue)
The storm that hit the region on Thursday brought 20 millimetres of rain across the fire ground.
"[It] has been fantastic and it will give our firefighters some reprieve today," Ms Porter said.
A high fire danger warning is in place for Sunday, with conditions expected to worsen into next week.