The Penrith SES has received over 30 calls for assistance after freak winds lashed the area this afternoon.
A major clean-up operation is underway in Penrith and surrounding suburbs after severe winds, including at least one gust of 83km/h, brought the city to a halt just after 2pm.
Hundreds of homes lost power, including at Penrith, Cranebrook, South Penrith, Llandilo and Jamisontown.
With trees and wires falling down in multiple locations through the storm, traffic and public transport faced a trying afternoon, with the storm hitting around the same time most schools in the area were finishing up for the day.
Among the incidents:
* A tree fell across Woodriff Street in Penrith near Stafford Street and the Centro Nepean Shopping Centre
* Southlands Shopping Centre was plunged into darkness after losing power
* A caller to Radio 2GB reported that the wall of a warehouse had collapsed in Colyton
* Fire crews at Wallacia responded to a tree down on Elizabeth Drive at Luddenham
* A tree fell onto wires at Pages Road, St Marys
Penrith Panthers legend and Triple M presenter Mark Geyer said the weather was ferocious.
“Some of the strongest winds I’ve ever experienced hitting Penrith at the minute,” he said on Twitter.
“Hearing lots of sirens too. Hope not too much damage.”
Hundreds of locals took to social media to report flying gazebos, outdoor umbrellas and fences.
A severe weather warning remains in place across the Sydney metropolitan area.
