Deadly weekend storms wreak havoc across Australia

Deadly weekend storms wreak havoc across Australia

Thousands of Australians are facing huge repair bills after deadly weekend storms. Hundreds are homeless after their roofs were ripped off in Sydney.

The storms were too close for comfort for two mates who were nearly struck by lightning.

At Sydney's Oyster Bay, two mates had just returned to base in their tinnie to avoid the storm. It proved a wise decision.

"At the moment the lightning struck we just felt the sheer power of the shockwave that hit us, and we felt the static throughout the air," says shocked teenager Daniel Dudmun. "It was just insane. The noise was just unbelievable."

It was one of thousands of lightning strikes during the storms that smashed Sydney.

Power was cut to 50,000 homes and businesses and 200 people were left homeless after the wind stripped the roof off an apartment building.

"Oh my God, it happened in like two seconds," says resident Ranny Harnn. "I couldn't do anything."

In Queensland, the rain hit hard and fast. It caught out two brothers who tried to make it through a flooded road when their car was swept away. The driver made it out; his 68-year-old passenger didn't.

Just down the road, a couple of hours earlier, another man misjudged the flooding.

"He made it onto the roof, but as the waters rose he was swept off and clung to a tree for safety," says rescuer Jonathon Blackley.

In Melbourne, a twister was caught on security camera blasting a street. It lasted 40 seconds. Trees and roof tiles couldn't compete.

Victoria, of course, didn't miss out on the rain. It was a different storm cell and a different emergency in Western Australia.

Two men were rescued when their four-wheel drive sank.

But Cyclone Stan didn't pack the punch forecasters had predicted.

Australian forecasters say a unique set of weather patterns were responsible for the nationwide wet weather event, and it's not expected to be repeated any time soon.

Newshub.