Tornadoes, heavy rainfall and hail have marked an active start to the storm season in eastern and southern Australia as insurers continue to push for national arrangements to allow industry personnel to move more quickly across regions.

A tornado near Bathurst on Thursday afternoon caused damage to houses, trees and powerlines, stretching in a line of about 30km, the Bureau of Meteorology reported. Four claims had been received by Friday afternoon, the Insurance Council of Australia said.

Another tornado touched down near Narrabri in northern NSW, while reports of others were being examined by the bureau.

The tornadoes were part of a severe weather system that impacted a wide area last week, bringing severe thunderstorms and warnings of damaging winds, large hail and heavy rainfall.

Large to giant hail and 85 kph wind gusts were recorded at Bourke on Wednesday. Walgett received double its monthly average rainfall for September in one day and heavy rain fell in Canberra.

“This has been the first really significant thunderstorm outbreak heading into our storm season,” Bureau of Meteorology Manager NSW and ACT Agata Imielska said.

In Victoria, record daily rainfall totals were recorded last week in the Otway ranges at Mt Cowley, Benwerrin and Mt Sabine, while parts of Gippsland have received record daily rainfall for September.

Hail and heavy rainfall also hit SA, with Mt Lofty in the Adelaide Hills receiving 63mm in the 24 hours to Thursday morning, while 82mm was recorded at Crafers West.

ICA has warned that repairs after disasters will be delayed without a nationally consistent approach to allow essential insurance workers to move within and between states.

The group has written to state and territory leaders and Prime Minister Scott Morrison calling for the issue to be discussed at National Cabinet and an arrangement agreed.