Heavy rain, damaging wind and large hail forecast to hit drought and fire-ravaged parts of NSW and QLD

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Drought and bushfire affected areas in parts of New South Wales and Queensland are set to be hit by severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. 

As catastrophic fires burn across the country, a warning has been issued for the Northern Tablelands with another trough further to the west extending from western Queensland. 

A warning has been issued for severe thunderstorms, damaging winds, heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and large hailstones in the warning area over the next several hours. 

Locations which may be affected include Armidale, Glen Innes, Ebor, Guyra, Walcha and Uralla. 

A warning of severe thunderstorms, damaging winds, heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and large hailstones has been issued 

Orange sky: Dawn breaks over the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, New South Wales, amid extreme temperatures in the country 

More than 100 bushfires are currently burning across the state and more than 2,000 firefighters are battling the blazes. It is expected the heavy rainfall will come as a relief for them.

Thousands of families are fleeing the devastated coast south of Batemans Bay. 

MP Andrew Constance appeared visibly distraught as fires ravaged the area and was told nearly 400 homes have been lost in NSW.

'It's unfair, you know? I met four RFS guys yesterday who lost their homes,' he said.

'Beautiful neighbours of mine lost their homes. It is tough. We will get it together. We're tough here, we're pretty resilient people. We've been through a lot, we'll recover. It's just hard.'

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of NSW and Queensland on Thursday

Fires have destroyed nearly 400 homes across NSW (Pictured: clouds brewing over the harbour bridge)

Rain is forecast for Armidale and Inverell. A warning has been issued for parts of NSW and QLD

After ripping through forest, the out-of-control Badja Forest Road fire has lept across the Princes Highway and devastated the coastline.

It is now burning at an alarming and uncontrollable rate, as locals and holidaymakers alike scramble to escape.

The Rural Fire Service is urging residents and holidaymakers to completely evacuate the south coast before Saturday, when conditions are likely to spiral out of control.

'It is not safe. Do not be here on Saturday,' the warning said.

There are fears that if people do not flee the embattled coastline, there will soon be no way out.

Police are reminding residents and tourists of road closures and traffic diversions due to the fires. 

The mercury is expected to top 45C on Saturday and everyone is urged to evacuate the area due to dangerous conditions. 

Holidaymakers attempting to flee Batemans Bay before temperatures reach 46C on Saturday were trapped on the roads with long rows of cars seen piled up on Thursday

This picture taken on December 31, 2019 shows a firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses from bushfires near the town of Nowra on the NSW south coast 

State Emergency Operations Controller, Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys, said conditions are continuously changing and sections of roads closing and opening periodically as the fire emergency continues.

'The NSW Police Force and the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) are working to maintain safe travel passages for people in Southern NSW, but fires are impacting some of these routes,' Deputy Commissioner Worboys said.

'With the assistance of Transport for NSW, we have been running controlled access to various arterial roads to allow people to leave impacted areas, but sections of the Princes Highway are being closed periodically for safety reasons.

'The road networks are currently fully loaded in many areas, so please be patient and remain calm. Importantly, obey all directions from police or other emergency services.

'We also recommend you have plenty of fuel and a fully-charged mobile phone, as well as water and snacks for the trip, as lengthy delays are expected.'

This satellite image shows the devastation of the fires devastating the coastal town of Batemans Bay, on the NSW south coast, early Wednesday morning as the blaze continues to spread

This picture taken on December 31, 2019 shows firefighters struggling against the strong wind in an effort to secure nearby houses from bushfires near the town of Nowra

A fire ravages bushland at the side of the road near Mt Wilson in the Blue Mountains

Further up towards Batemans Bay, the Clyde Mountain fire is also burning out-of-control.

On Thursday cars were being allowed to travel north from Batemans Bay on the Princes Highway, with thousands of motorists taking to the roads in a desperate attempt to escape.

There have been seven deaths in NSW alone since Monday.

This includes volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul, as well as Patrick Salway, 29, and his 63-year-old father Robert.

Two bodies were found separately in Yatte Yattah, while another was found in a vehicle at Sussex Inlet.

Another body was discovered at Coolagolite, with a man missing and presumed dead in Belowra.