Intense thunderstorms are set to burst over New South Wales today as soaring temperatures grip much of the state.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast "severe" thunderstorms with damaging winds and large hail possible.

They're likely to be concentrated on Sydney, the northern Illawarra, the Hunter, and Central West regions.

Sydney's storms and rain showers are likely to develop during the afternoon, following a hot day with a top of 32 degrees predicted.

And daytime temperatures are expected to be "well above average" across the northern and central areas of the state, the Bureau said.

Weatherzone said the unstable weather was likely to develop after a cold front and low-pressure trough swept over the state and collided with a "much warmer" air mass.

"An upper-level trough p

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