Hail, damaging winds and heavy rainfall have lashed Sydney this evening, as a pattern of severe weather across the state persists.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued an imminent thunderstorm warning for Gosford, Sydney and greater Wollongong at 6.40pm after damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall were detected around the centre of the city.

Wind gusts up to 90km/h were recorded in some areas, according to the bureau.

Conditions have since eased in Sydney's metro area, but a severe weather warning remains in place for the Northern Tablelands and Northern Rivers.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours, the BoM warned.

Areas including

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