Isolated heavy showers with thunderstorms moved along central parts of the NSW coast from yesterday afternoon with Newcastle one of the hardest hit locations. Severe thunderstorms moved over Newcastle from 6:30pm on Thursday night bringing heavy rain to the Greater Newcastle area. Merewether was one of the hardest hit recording 90mm in 7 hours to 11pm. Newcastle Nobbys also received heavy falls with thunderstorms receiving 50mm. For both of these locations this was the wettest June day since 2007. Williamtown joined in on the action as well picking up 47mm, the wettest June day since 2011. Within 25km of Newcastle there were over 300 lightning strikes. Most of these occurred along the coast and out to sea with only a few flashes of lightning west of the Pacific Highway. Falls were lighter further west with Cessnock picking up 11mm and Maitland 2mm. A low pressure trough caused these heavy yet isolated showers and thunderstorms along the coast. Today storms are unlikely as a strengthening high pressure system extends over eastern NSW bringing more stable conditions. This weekend will see mostly sunny skies before another low pressure trough brings the chance of some late showers on Monday and into Tuesday.