Flights delayed amid Sydney storm

The storm hitting Bondi Beach.

PASSENGERS flying in and out of Sydney Airport are facing delays due to the storm that’s pounding the city.

Flights are still landing and taking off, but as it’s unsafe for ground staff to be on the tarmac there are delays in offloading passengers and their luggage, a Sydney Airport spokeswoman said.

A second storm is slamming Sydney just hours after hail the size of cricket balls fell in the city’s southern suburbs and a tornado was spotted near the airport.

“It is what’s called a super cell thunderstorm and they’re one of the most dangerous thunderstorms we get,” the Bureau of Meteorology said.

Some travellers have taken to Twitter to share their stories of being stuck on the plane or at the airport waiting for the weather to ease.

Sitting on the plane on the tarmac @SydneyAirport as another storm comes in...

— Jamie Freed (@Jamie_Freed) December 16, 2015

#Sydneystorm Airservices Australia just shutdown sydney airport. Looks like I am stuck in the @VirginAustralia lounge for a while.

— Carlo Nizeti (@carlonizeti) December 16, 2015

Goodbye Melbourne. Or at least we thought so. Storms in Sydney so stuck on the taxiway at Melbourne airport. Boring as R might say.

— Pootle and Ferg (@PootleandFerg) December 16, 2015

Some reported huge delays.

Getting this text from @VirginAustralia while actually sitting on the plane 😳😱 http://pic.twitter.com/7GmVrnvTwJ

— Jonno Simpson (@JonnoSimpson) December 15, 2015

And now we're heading back to the bay to refuel and wait for another hour. Started this trip 5 hours ago. http://pic.twitter.com/wEkWZFrPNU

— Jonno Simpson (@JonnoSimpson) December 16, 2015

Earlier, some passengers were photographed walking on the road up to the airport amid the first storm due to gridlock.

.@guardianaus reader Claire Milet took this, of people getting out of cars to walk to #SydneyAirport in #sydneystorm http://pic.twitter.com/7GbkszdJcp

— (Joyeux No)Elle Hunt (@mlle_elle) December 16, 2015

Three international flights were diverted this morning.

The airport spokeswoman said it’s impossible to know how long the delays will last.

Passengers are being advised to check flight details with their airlines. Flights from Melbourne and the Gold Coast are among those delayed by Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar.