But getting wet isn’t the only inconvenience, with the inclement weather also likely to bring asthma attack-inducing irritants.

“The storms can pick up grasses, pollen, chemicals and pollutants in the air,” Orange Family Physicians’ David Howe said.

“It may pick these up form kilometres away.”

A similar thunderstorm in Melbourne last month is suspected of contributing to the deaths of four people, with researchers taking a closer look at the danger of thunderstorm asthma.

Dr Howe said thunderstorms provided the “perfect storm” of trouble for people who suffered from asthma by spreading air-borne irritants and sudden changes in temperature.

But he said they could also impact people who aren’t diagnosed with asthma.

Dr Howe said the start of spring and harvest season meant an increasing number of people presenting with asthma symptoms but it was in line with seasonal expectations.

While the irritants and pollen can be taken from kilometres away, Dr Howe said rye-grass was a major contributor for asthma sufferers in Orange.

“A windy day can be quite bad as well,” he said.

“When clouds come in, they push the heavy air in front of the cloud, all the things which cause asthma are all floating around in that air.

“When heavy rains come they tend to wash everything back to the ground but rain can cause a change in air temperature which can precipitate an attack.

“Some people have very mild forms of asthma and are okay until something like a thunderstorm happens, some people might not get the inflammation or they might not get a muscle spasm.

“Anyone who’s having trouble breathing, who’s wheezing, anybody who’s coughing more than they normally should seek medical help. Asthma can be diagnosed any time in life.”

National Asthma Council chairman Jonathan Burdon urged people to take preventative steps for unusual weather patterns.

“As we have seen with the recent events in Melbourne any serious asthma attack can be life-threatening and have tragic consequences,” Dr Burdon said.

“Act quickly if you start to have symptoms such as shortness of breath or wheezing.

“If you haven’t previously had a diagnosis of asthma and are experiencing regular symptoms, book in to have a review with your doctor. You may benefit from preventer medication and having an action plan for emergencies.”