That Southerly Change still Far, Far Away

BY JESSICA ROUSE

It's here, the first forecast 40 degree day of summer.

The Hunter has been sweating through the day with temperatures across the region reaching the mid to high 30s. It hit 40 degrees in Tocal at 2:20pm.

A reprieve is still a few hours away though, a southerly change is on the radar and will hit the coastline first between 2am and 3am tomorrow morning.

"So that means it's going to be a really hot evening tonight, we'll go to bed under very hot circumstances but then we'll have a cool breeze moving in across the coastal suburbs during the early hours, but this system isn't really strong enough to clear the heat from the Upper Hunter so it's going to remain quite hot there," said NBN weatherman Gavin Morris.

The hot temperatures have sparked warnings to look out for the most vulnerable in the community. Ambulance Chief Inspector Brian Parcell said the elderly and children are most at risk of conditions such as heat stroke. 

"In a medical emergency dial Triple Zero because people who have had a heat-related event, particularly heat exhaustion, and heat stroke there's a 25 per cent mortality rate associated with that."

Meanwhile, pet owners are being reminded to take extra care of their animals in the heat. Just this week a dog died in Sydney after being left in a car for six hours.

RSPCA NSW Chief Inspector David O'Shaughnessy said there are plenty of ways owners can keep their animals cool.

"You can put ice cubes in water bowls if you're not going to be there, place those water bowls in a cool shaded area and out of direct sun. When you're walking your dog if you're going to take it for a walk, take it early  in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the hottest part of the day."

Gavin Morris said warm air will still be making its way over Newcastle on Saturday before a cooler day on Sunday with temperatures in the mid 20s.

Looking ahead to next week through the hot air will back with high 30 degree days.

Wild Weather Leaves Kurri Kurri Looking Like a War Zone

BY JESSICA ROUSE

It could be days before Kurri Kurri gets back on its feet after a ferocious storm ripped through the area yesterday afternoon.

Cyclonic conditions hit the town at about 2pm, with it came winds of up to 100 kilomtres per hour that ripped roofs off buildings, brought trees down on cars and cut power to thousands of homes.

Image MJF Productions.

Emergency services were run off their feet with the Kurri Kurri Community Centre evacuated after the building partially collapsed, and the Ambulance Practice hall became one of the worst hit with the roof completely ripped off.

Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent said the storm was short but severe.

"I was in the area yesterday when it happened and it is like a war zone,"

"The plan today is that the SES, the police and council have a meeting this morning and from there we will work out a way forward, particularly around the safety aspect of the buildings that lost their roofs," said Mayor Bob Pynsent.

Today Kurri Kurri Public School is closed due to damage, as will the library until it is given the all clear. The OOSh which runs out of the Ambulance Hall will relocate if a suitable venue can be found.



"We will get a full assessment today with the meeting between SES, the police and council and we will then be putting forward an emergency funding plan from the government," said Mayor Bob Pynsent.

Rachael Squires from the SES says crews are still dealing with dozens of calls for assistance.

"In total, we had over 175 calls for assistance. Last night we had 20 crews on the ground from across our region, we also had assistance from a number of crews from Fire and Rescue and so we managed to be able to complete around 90 of those jobs so we'll still be working on the ground today."

Ausgrid is still working to restore power to 1300 homes around Kurri Kurri, Abermain, Weston Sawyers Gully and Loxford.

"Everyone needs to remain safe because we still have around 1300 people without power so it's going to be a tough day again today," said Mayor Bob Pynsent.

Kurri Kurri Communuity Centre Image MJF Productions.

Image MJF Productions.

UPDATE 3:20pm Huge thunderstorm pummels through the Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

UPDATE 3:22pm

Two people have been taken to the Maitland Hospital after being hurt during the storm.

Emergency services were called the Kurri Kurri Community Centre at 2:07pm.

They suffered minor injuries believed to be storm related.

The State Emergency Service is advising people to move cars under or away from trees, secure loose items around your house, stay away from fallen power lines or objects, report any fallen power lines to Ausgrid on 131 388, unplug computers or appliances, avoid using your phone during the storm and try to stay indoors.

EARLIER 2:30pm

There are reports of significant damage in the Kurri Kurri business district as a huge thunderstorm moves through the area.

The Kurri Kurri Community Centre in Lang Street has been evacuated after suffering storm damage this afternoon.

The damage is yet to be fully assessed and so it will be closed until further notice. There are reports the roof has been torn off the centre and exposed bricks have fallen onto the road.

Glen works next door to the library and says emergency services are checking that everyone got out alright.

"Community Centre library has lost its roof completely by the look of things its taken some of the facade down with it. There's bricks all on the road, tin across the road. At the moment we've got ambulance, fire, police, the streets are blocked off, we've got wires down, trees down..."

RT: KURRI KURRI | UPDATE: All people accounted for after partial building collapse in Lang St. Exclusion zone in place & crews assessing da…

— Ian Krimmer (@IanKrimmer) November 6, 2017

Other buildings have also reportedly been damaged including the Ambulance Practice Hall in Lang Street.

The Kurri Kurri Aquatic Fitness Centre has been closed due to damage. Just what the damage there is isn't known at this stage.

Traffic lights are blacked out at Station Street at First Street in Weston, meanwhile, there's a fallen tree on Allandale Road and a damaged sign is affecting southbound traffic in East Maitland at Newcastle Street at High Street.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe thunderstorm warning which was expected to hit Newcastle, Maitland, Raymond Terrace, Wallsend and Morpeth by 2:30pm and then Swansea, Dora Creek, Nords Wharf and Lake Macquarie by 3pm.

You should report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid on 131 388, or Endeavour Energy on 131 003 or Essential Energy on 132 080 as shown on your power bill.

In an emergency ring the SES on 132 500.

Baby, it's cold outside!

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

If you thought it was a little colder than usual when you jumped out of bed this morning, you're not wrong!

The Hunter experienced its coldest morning since last winter with the mercury dropping to -2.2 degrees at Cessnock at about 5:45am, while Cooranbong dipped to just below freezing.

Elsewhere Nobby's had a balmy 7.5 degrees and it hit 4.2 degrees at Williamtown.

The weather bureau says there's even a possibility of a dusting of snow on the Barrington Tops later today.

Hunter Rugs Up For Coldest Day Of The Year

BY IAN CROUCH

 Parts of the Hunter have shivered through their coldest morning so far this year.

The mercury plunged to minus 3.5 degrees at Cessnock just after 6.30, while the temperature dipped to minus 3.1 at Scone Airport just after 7 o'clock.

Elsewhere, it was zero degrees at Tocal just after 7am, 1.7 at Williamtown at 5.37am and minus 1.3 at Coooranbong at 7.15am. 

Merriwa recorded the region's lowest temperature this morning, with minus 4.6 degrees at 7.08am.