Dramatic dashcam footage captured the moment a lightning strike exploded on a home’s roof, sparking a devastating fire.
The Western Sydney home was destroyed in the blaze as a powerful thunderstorm left a path of destruction across the city, the Blue Mountains and Central Coast.
Firefighters found the Glenmore Park home engulfed in flames and threatening to spread to neighbouring homes at the height of the storm early on Monday evening.
The incredible moment the lightning hit was caught by a passing car’s dashcam recorder despite the intense weather conditions.
Dramatic dashcam footage has caught the moment a lightning strike exploded on a home’s roof (pictured), sparking a devastating fire
The Western Sydney home was destroyed in the blaze (pictured) as a powerful thunderstorm left a path of destruction across the city, the Blue Mountains and Central Coast
Through the deluge of the downpour and gale-force winds, the lightning strike can be seen hitting the roof of the home in an explosion of sparks, triggering the fire.
Fire and Rescue NSW were helped by the Rural Fire Service but were unable to save the home in Kobina Avenue, just after 5.30pm.
‘They battled the blaze, which took hold in the roof of the property, and quickly contained the flames and prevented it from spreading to neighbouring homes,’ a FRNSW spokesman said.
‘Initial reports indicate the house was struck by lightning, starting the fire.’
Firefighters found the Glenmore Park home engulfed in flames (pictured) and threatening to spread to neighbouring homes at the height of the storm early on Monday evening
Fire and Rescue NSW were helped by the Rural Fire Service but were unable to save the home in Kobina Avenue (pictured), just after 5.30pm
The wild storm brought heavy rain, hail and strong winds which caused a shopping centre roof to collapse.
Penrith and surrounding areas were battered by the storm at 5pm, with 19mm of rain dumped in just under 15 minutes and winds of up to 90km/h.
Flash flooding left some motorists stranded and the roof of the Nepean Shopping Centre collapsed under the weight of the deluge.
The storm hit numerous Sydney suburbs including Penrith, St Marys and Glenmore Park and also further west in the Blue Mountains, including Katoomba, Blaxland and Leura, before heading east and north towards the Central Coast.
Flash flooding in Penrith put streets underwater with motorist stranded (pictured) on Monday afternoon
The storm brought hail which battered suburbs surrounding Penrith and towards the Blue Mountains (pictured)
The freak storm barrelled through Western Sydney at 5pm on Monday (pictured)
The storm was one of three storm cells moving over the region on Monday afternoon, bringing down trees and flooding streets.
Australians on the east coast have have been warned there is likely going to be a ‘significant drenching’ over the next 10 days.
Sydney is forecast to receive 50mm to 100mm of rain in the next week with most of the rainfall from daily afternoon thunderstorms.
Much of the wet weather will be focused on central Queensland and the northern and inland parts of NSW – the Hunter region and Sydney basin included.
About 19mm of rain was dumped in Sydney’s west in under 15 minutes on Monday afternoon causing flooding (pictured)
Temperature-wise Sydney will see the mercury reach stay under 30C this week.
Melbourne will be slightly warmer on Wednesday reaching a maximum of 32C but will cool down by Friday reaching 25C.
Humid weather and showers are also forecast for the Victorian capital each day this week.
Brisbane can expect showers and similar temperatures in the high 20s.
Over on the west coast, Perth will continue its run of hot, sunny weather sweltering through temperatures in the mid to high 30s all week.
Melbourne will be slightly warmer on Wednesday reaching a maximum of 32C but will cool down by Friday reaching 25C.
Firefighters at the Nepean Chopping Centre assessing the damage (pictured)
Firefighters rushed to the Nepean Shopping Centre after the roof collapsed under the weight of the deluge (pictured)
Humid weather and showers are also forecast for the Victorian capital each day this week.
Brisbane can expect showers and similar temperatures in the high 20s.
Over on the west coast, Perth will continue its run of hot, sunny weather sweltering through temperatures in the mid to high 30s all week.
Adelaide should also get sunny weather but will be slightly cooler with the mercury hovering around maximums of 30C.
Adelaide should also get sunny weather but will be slightly cooler with the mercury hovering around maximums of 30C.
The storm also brought strong winds and hail with drivers rushing to get under cover (pictured)
