NSW - Kurnell - Tornado
 

Sydney tornado: Clean-up underway in Kurnell after 'unprecedented' storm delivers 213kph winds - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Authorities say it is very fortunate no-one was seriously injured in a tornado that tore along Sydney's southern coast, ripping off roofs and leaving some residents with "nothing".

Key points:

• Tornado, 213kph winds, golf ball-sized hail and localised heavy rainfall cause damage in Sydney
• More than 500 calls for help
• Westfield Bondi Junction roof collapsed and flooding
• Storm knocked out power to thousands of homes north of Wollongong

The Bureau of Meteorology said the destructive winds hit at about 10:30am (AEDT) on Wednesday, measuring up to 213 kilometres per hour, while some areas were pelted with golf ball-sized hail stones.

New South Wales Fire and Rescue Superintendent Ian Krimmer said the weather event had been "unprecedented".

Forecaster Michael Logan said the wind speeds recorded were "up there" with the fastest ever registered in the Sydney area.