Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Newcastle, Maitland, and Cessnock Areas
This alert is no longer in effect.
BOM issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).
Areazine synthesizes this BoM weather warning directly from BOM's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a high-priority severe thunderstorm warning for heavy rainfall and flash flooding in parts of Greater Newcastle and Maitland/Cessnock.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Severe Thunderstorm Warning
- Affected area
- Greater Newcastle and Maitland/Cessnock, NSW
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- BOM
Storm notices can cover different combinations of wind, hail, lightning, and rainfall. Use the original notice for the hazards and boundaries attached to this specific record.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Greater Newcastle and Maitland/Cessnock, NSW.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Heavy Rainfall in Newcastle and Maitland/Cessnock
Alert Details
The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a detailed Severe Thunderstorm Warning (IDN21035) for heavy rainfall. This high-priority alert was issued at 10:21 pm on Sunday, 8 March 2026, and is effective immediately for parts of the Greater Newcastle and Maitland/Cessnock areas.
Affected Areas
The warning specifically covers geographic regions within New South Wales, including parts of Greater Newcastle and the Maitland/Cessnock districts. Specific locations identified in the storm's path include:
- Charlestown, Cardiff, and Merewether
- Wallsend, West Wallsend, and Boolaroo
Expected Conditions
At 10:20 pm, a severe thunderstorm was detected moving towards the northwest. The storm is likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding. Conditions are currently developing south of Newcastle. A more general severe thunderstorm warning is also current for other parts of the Hunter district.
Timeline
The storm is forecast to affect the following areas at these approximate times:
- 10:50 pm: Charlestown, Cardiff, and Merewether
- 11:20 pm: Wallsend, West Wallsend, and Boolaroo
The Bureau of Meteorology expects to issue the next update by 11:25 pm.
What You Should Do
The State Emergency Service (SES) advises residents in the warning area to take immediate safety precautions:
- Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
- Do not walk, ride your bike, or drive through flood water.
- If you are trapped by flash flooding, seek refuge in the highest available place and call 000 if you require rescue.
- Stay indoors and away from windows; ensure children and pets remain inside.
- For emergency help in floods and storms, contact the SES at 132 500.
- Monitor updates via the Hazards Near Me NSW app or the Bureau's website.
Original source: BOM Official Notice ↗
Related Weather Warnings
All Weather Warnings →Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this BoM weather warning.