If your place is without power this evening you are not alone.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe thunderstorm warning earlier this afternoon as a front crossed the state bringing damaging winds and the risk of hail.

High winds preceded the storms with Cobar Airport recording a 98 km per hour wind gust at 2:55 pm.

An estimated 5000 customers have lost power in an area that reaches from west of Tilpa to just east of Coolah, and from the Queensland border north of Weilmoringle to just west of Bogan Gate in the south.

'A surface trough ahead of a vigorous cold front is producing severe thunderstorms over central NSW,' the Bureau's alert said. 'This activity is expected to shift quickly towards the east this evening.'

The power first cut out around Tilpa at around 2:47pm with Coolah affected at around 7:10pm.

Surprisingly, apart from Warren, Trangie, Narromine and Gulargambone, most townships have so far avoided the blackouts.

Multiple areas of western NSW have been affected by this evening's storm activity. SOURCE: Essential Energy Outages

Essential Energy's emergency crews will be working overtime to find and address the multiple incidents.

With intense lightning activity and high winds, the State Emergency Service advises that people should:

• Move your car under cover or away from trees.

• Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.

• Keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.

• Report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid (131 388), Endeavour Energy (131 003), Essential Energy (132 080) or Evoenergy (131 093) as shown on your power bill.

• Unplug computers and appliances.

• Avoid using the phone during the storm.

• Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.

• Stay vigilant and monitor conditions. Note that the landscape may have changed following bushfires.

Thousands of lightning strikes have accompanied the storm front. SOURCE: Farmonline weather

For emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES (NSW and ACT) on 132 500.

The next storm update is due to be issued by the Bureau at 10:25 pm.

Click Power Outages for an update in your area. For radar try Western Plains (Brewarrina composite).