SYDNEY, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Large swathes of Australia's New South Wales state, including farmland suffering from one of its worst droughts, were told to brace for severe thunderstorms starting Saturday, according to weather authorities.
At least one death has been reported from lightning strikes.
Heavy rain, damaging winds and large hailstones were forecast for the state stretching from its southern tablelands to northwest slopes and plains, with severe thunderstorms "likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding," the national bureau of meteorology issued in a warning.
The storms were being generated by an atmospheric trough interacting with a humid airmass, it said.
Near the Dubbo central west agricultural area, a 53-year-old man died after being struck by lightning in the middle of a racecourse where a cattle dog community event was held, according to local media.
Organizers of a river festival also canceled their annual event, citing "real concerns" about the high amount of lightning strikes hitting the area, the ABC news channel reported.
The storms follow one of the country's worst droughts, with authorities increasing aid for farmers dealing with low crop production and livestock losses in the major eastern agricultural states in recent months.
New South Wales state emergency services advised residents on Saturday to stay indoors away from windows and be on the alert for damaged trees, fallen electricity cables and other contingencies.
