Two houses at Caroda, about 40km west of Bingara, also needed tarping, SES Namoi region controller Andrew Galvin said.

The storm, which also hit Tamworth and surrounds, knocked out the Tamworth rain gauge, Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) officer in charge at Moree, Michael Glasson, said.

He said wind speeds reached 83km/h in Gunnedah, 78km/h in Narrabri and 70km/h in Tamworth.

“Over 90km/h is classified as severe,” Mr Glasson said.

“It mainly affected the southern parts of the slopes and plains – large parts of the tablelands missed out. 

“It was quite heavy in parts (and is) ahead of a low-pressure trough system moving through.

“We get storms any time of the year, but our severe thunderstorm season goes from the beginning of October to the end of March – so we’re still in the season, but it’s coming to an end.” 

Mr Glasson had not had any reports of hail. 

A lightning strike on Porcupine Ln, Tintinhull, knocked out power to about 2700 households and businesses in Kootingal, Bendemeer, Moonbi, Tintinhull, Limbri, Weabonga and Watsons Creek, as well as part of Daruka and Upper Moore Creek.

Essential Energy community relations northern manager David Crough said crews responded immediately after the power network sensed the problem and switched itself off for the safety of the public and their property.

He said all customers had their power restored by 11.54pm.

“The storms caused the greatest impact to the power network in the Gilgai area, and we dispatched additional crews and equipment to ensure power was restored to those customers as quickly as possible,” Mr Crough said.

Essential Energy hoped that power would be fully restored to all households and businesses affected by these storms by last night.

Rain recorded to 9am yester-day: Coonabarabran 39mm, Gunnedah 23.8mm, Narrabri 24.4mm, Tingha and Mullaley 14mm, Barraba 12mm, Nundle 10mm, Moonbi 11mm, Inverell 9mm, Blackville 4mm, Manilla, Quirindi and Woolbrook 2mm, Krui Plains 1mm.