Multiple storm fronts converged on the Hunter Valley Wollongong and Sydney yesterday afternoon prompted a severe weather warning from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.

Hailstones the size – and shape – of "poached eggs" smashed their way through Sydney's eastern, inner and western suburbs when a succession of storms hit the city.

Social media was awash with photos of hailstones bigger than human palms on the city's fringes and videos which showed crowds huddled under awnings as city roads were covered by ice.

The New South Wales State Emergency Service urged people to stay indoors to avoid being struck by the massive hailstones, and move their cars under cover or away from trees.

But the warning came too late for many.

A severe thunderstorm warning for large portions of the state including Sydney's CBD, south and west, along with Newcastle, Wollongong and Dubbo, remains current.

[Source: Sydney Morning Herald]