Major storm in Sydney

Sydney weather: thunderstorm rages through city

SMH,

15 October, 2014

An epic storm raged across Sydney on Tuesday night, trapping 12 people on a train, closing major roads and bringing snow to the Blue Mountains.

NSW Fire & Rescue experienced one of its busiest nights in history.

Lightning strikes Sydney Tower. Photo: Diimex

A 30-tonne crane toppled over at the Great Western Highway at Wentworthville and was resting precariously on power lines.

Emergency crews are working to lift the crane, which is leaning across the road.

The road was closed although one west-bound lane has been reopened.

Flooding on Parramatta Road at Summer Hill. Photo: Ty Olliver

A lightning bolt struck the Sydney Tower about 10pm, creating a shower of sparks and plunging the structure into darkness. 

Ultimo resident Tom Lane said it was "like someone was welding".

"It was one of the biggest bolts of lightning I have ever seen. It was absolutely massive. The whole tower went black," Mr Lane said.

Photo: Colin Hamilton

Snow blanketed the Blue Mountains almost a year to the day since bushfires wiped out more than 200 homes in the area. Snow and ice forced the closure of the Great Western Highway between Bathurst and Blackheath overnight. 

The road remains closed between Lithgow and Katoomba, while the Bells Line of Road remains shut between Lithgow and Bell.

The severe thunderstorm warning was cancelled at 12.27am for Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong.