SYDNEY, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- More than 140,000 homes and businesses across Australia's New South Wales state suffered power outages late Saturday, when severe storms hit swathes of the east coast including large hailstones that pelted its capital Sydney and caused transport chaos.

The "devastating storm" caused "extensive damage" with many customers expected to be without power until Sunday, major power supplier Endeavour Energy posted online. Another major electricity distributor, Ausgrid, said its emergency crew were still working to restore power at night.

The national bureau of meteorology had warned that severe thunderstorms from a low pressure system inland could lead to flash flooding, damaging winds and hailstones along the eastern stretch of the state at the start of summer in the Southern Hemisphere. State emergency services also alerted people to fallen power lines, trees and other contingencies.

Sydney transport management authorities and train operators told local media there were significant road network delays and service suspensions, with reports of large hailstones hitting the western suburbs.

The wild weather also caused flight delays and cancellations, according to Sydney Airport authorities. Enditem

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