On 6 January 2001, areas of Dubbo (Central Western Slopes) in New South Wales experienced a very severe thunderstorm late in the day. Strong winds, large hailstones and flash flooding caused damage; approximately 50 millimetres of rain and hail was recorded in around 30 minutes and wind gusts of up to 130 kilometres per hour resulted in hundreds of falling trees. An estimated 400 buildings and 150 motor vehicles were damaged.

Dubbo was declared a natural disaster area; it was later reported that approximately five per cent of houses sustained damage from the storm.

The Insurance Council of Australia estimated the 2001 storm damage at $15 million, with the 2011 estimated normalised cost of $28 million.