The storms formed in the late morning over the Northwest Slopes and Plains, before tracking across the northern ranges and extending to the north coast during the afternoon.

From 9am to 3pm, the top fall was 7mm at Dorrigo, with numerous falls between 1mm and 5mm along the Northern Tablelands.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast, Northern Tablelands and North West Slopes, warning of the potential for damaging winds.

The storms were triggered by a trough of low pressure in advance of a cold front.

Jet stream winds are strengthening across the region as an upper level trough approaches southeast Australia, increasing the potential for gusty winds to reach the surface.

This will also keep the storms fast-moving, preventing any large rainfall totals from developing.

Today the trough will shift north, causing the focus of the storms to spread into southeast Queensland, while a ridge of high pressure will contract storms northwards in New South Wales.