Tornado-like storm hits NSW Southern Tablelands

A violent storm has torn roofs from buildings, toppled trees and caused hail damage near Yass on the New South Wales Southern Tablelands.

The system hit the small community of Good Hope yesterday afternoon.

No injuries were reported and the clean-up will continue today.

A violent "tornado-like" storm cell has torn roofs from buildings, toppled trees and brought "golf-ball-sized hail" to a small rural community on the New South Wales Southern Tablelands.

The system hit Good Hope, about 12 kilometres outside Yass, on Saturday afternoon.

Yass Valley councillor and resident David Rothwell said the storm was unlike anything he had ever seen.

"It made a hell of a noise and then things got pretty wild.

"Lightning strikes and big hail, golf-ball-sized, pounding windows and the roof.

"I went outside to try and grab all the furniture that was blowing and stuff going everywhere [but] gave that up pretty quick when I saw the dog get blown into the wood shed.

The NSW SES said the storm ripped off six roofs and damaged the roofs of 10 other buildings.

Strong winds toppled trees, initially blocking road access to the area.

SES commander for the Yass Hilltops area, Deanne Young, described it as a "tornado-like event".

"It hit very hard and very fast and did some pretty significant damage," she said.

"There did appear to be a bit of a funnel forming out of the clouds.

Good Hope residents are now facing a lengthy clean-up and Cr Rothwell said the damage was "heartbreaking".

"I've got mates whose houses had their roofs ripped off," he said.

"It's terrible, sheds destroyed, horrible."