Weather Australia: NSW warned about funnel-web spiders amid wet weather

Residents in Sydney, Newcastle and the Central Coast are being warned about a spike in deadly funnel-web spiders as wet weather and warmer temperatures bring them out of hiding.

The Australian Reptile Park said people in those areas should be on the lookout for the deadly spiders as males venture outside their burrows into backyards and even indoors looking for a mate.

NSW residents have been urged to keep on the lookout for deadly funnel-web spiders after recent wet weather and humid conditions created “perfect conditions” for the invertebrates to thrive.

A “multistate thunderstorm” is expected to bring strong winds, torrential rain and flash flooding to parts of eastern Australia, with storms expected to peak on Friday and Saturday.

These areas, along with parts of the Northern Territory and South Australia, could see some storms and wet weather today but things are expected to really ramp up tomorrow.

“Friday is still shaping up to be the peak day across eastern Australia and we will see widespread storms, likely severe for some parts,” Mr How said.