A man has died and a woman is in a critical condition after a tree fell on their car during a storm in Sydney's west.
Strong winds have caused trees and powerlines to fall across the city's west, while lightning strikes have sparked fires in the Blue Mountains.
NSW Police confirmed a male passenger died after a tree fell on a car in Nepean Street, Emu Plains on Thursday afternoon.
The female driver is in a critical condition.
This picture was taken in Avalon, NSW.
Emergency services were also working to rescue a number of people who became trapped in their car when a tree fell on it in a shopping centre car park on the Great Western Highway.
The Rural Fire Service has responded to reports of three fires started by lightning strikes in the Blue Mountains.
All three blazes are in remote areas of bushland and are not threatening any homes.
Eight people had to be evacuated because of a wall collapse and roof damage at four factories in Emu Plains.
NSW Police says there are reports of substantial damage to homes, cars and powerlines in the Emu Plains and Penrith areas.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a thunderstorm warning for much of the state, stretching from Goulburn to Coffs Harbour and across to Bourke, on Thursday afternoon.
"Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Sydney, Wollongong, Orange, Tamworth and Dubbo," the warning said.
A severe weather warning has also been issued for flash flooding inland from Bega to Goulburn with up to 100mm of rain expected to fall in the region over a 12-hour period, the BOM says.
