Torrential rain and strong winds lashed the region just after 5.30pm, bringing down dozens of trees and a number of powerlines, causing blackouts across the city.

Online weather agency weatherzone.com recorded wind gusts of more than 70km/h at the Bathurst airport.

Bathurst SES regional controller Ian Borland said they had received about 40 calls for help.

“The storm has hit up the Orange Road, out at Montavella Road (Gormans Hill), across to West Bathurst and out to Kelso,” Mr Borland said.

“About the only place we haven’t got a call from is Raglan.

“We’ve got volunteers out doing the roofing jobs while council is doing the tree jobs and Country Energy is looking after the powerlines.”

SES volunteers from Orange were making their way to Bathurst last night to provide assistance, with the Rural Fire Service also helping out.

One of the biggest trees to come down crashed into the carpark behind the Michel’s Corner shops at West Bathurst.

Fortunately the tree fell away from the shops, narrowly averting thousands of dollars of damage.

A massive tree came down at Learmonth Park while the storm also caused traffic chaos on the Great Western Highway, with lights out at Kelso.

The SES expected work through the night and into today to get through their list of jobs.