Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane weather: Millions of Aussies put on high alert as strong winds and severe thunderstorms batter the east coast
Millions of Australians have been warned to brace for severe thunderstorms, which will bring gale force winds, large hailstones and heavy rain in the coming days.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, much of Australia’s east coast is forecast to fall on Wednesday.
The storms are likely to become severe in northeastern NSW and southeastern Queensland from afternoon to evening.
In NSW, the storms are expected to bring strong winds, hail and heavy rain that could lead to flash flooding for several hours.
Among the areas likely to be hardest hit by the deluge are parts of the south coast, the southern plateaus and the Snowy Mountains.
South-east Queensland can also expect heavy rain, wind and hail.
Regions in the firing line include Roma, St George, Stanthorpe, Bollon, Mitchell, Dirranbandi, Goondiwindi, Inglewood and Mungindi.
Seven News Queensland weather presenter Tony Auden warned that winds in the upper atmosphere would increase the storm risk.
Residents of Sydney and Brisbane will need their umbrellas and rain ponchos in the coming days
The storms are likely to become severe in northeastern NSW and southeastern Queensland late on Wednesday. The areas in green and yellow are in the line of fire
He added that the storms could potentially produce winds of more than 75 mph and huge hailstones more than 2 inches in diameter.
The cities likely to see storms on Wednesday are Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra, says Ben Domensino of Weatherwatch.
Brisbane and the nearby Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast areas are most likely to be affected by the severe weather.
There is a high chance of supercells in eastern Australia, Domensino warned.
These anomalies can produce massive hail, devastating winds, heavy rain, and even tornadoes and waterspouts.
The wild weather is part of a long outbreak of thunderstorms expected to cause thousands of lightning strikes across Australia this week.
Here’s what the weather will look like in your capital in the coming days.
Sydney
Wednesday: Partly cloudy, high chance of showers. There is a chance of thunderstorms in the west this afternoon and evening. Wind speeds up to 20 km/hour. Maximum 25.
Thursday: Cloudy. Moderate chance of showers, probably in the morning and early afternoon. There is a chance of a thunderstorm in the far west. Wind speeds up to 30 km/hour. Maximum 23.
Friday: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Wind speeds up to 20 km/h. Maximum 23.
Brisbane and the nearby Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast areas are most likely to be affected by the severe weather.
Melbourne
Wednesday: Cloudy. High chance of showers in the northern suburbs, moderate chance elsewhere. Wind speeds up to 30 km/hour. Maximum 20.
Thursday: Cloudy. Small chance of showers in the early morning. Wind speeds up to 25 km/h. Maximum 18.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Wind speeds up to 20 km/hour. Maximum 21.
Brisbane
Wednesday: Very high chance of showers, probably in the afternoon and evening. A thunderstorm, possibly heavy, is likely from late morning. Wind speeds up to 20 km/hour. Maximum 30.
Thursday: High chance of showers, probably in the afternoon. The chance of thunder. Wind speeds up to 20 km/hour. Maximum 32.
Friday: Moderate chance of showers, probably in the morning and afternoon. The chance of thunder. Wind speeds up to 25 km/h. Maximum 28.
Canberra
Wednesday: High chance of showers, probably in the afternoon and early evening. The chance of thunder. Wind speeds up to 20 km/h. Maximum 25.
Northeast NSW is the part of the state most at risk.
Thursday: High chance of showers, probably in the morning and afternoon. The chance of thunder. Wind speeds up to 20 km/h. Maximum 23.
Friday: Cloudy. Small chance of showers. Wind speeds up to 25 km/hour. Maximum 24.
Hobart
Wednesday: The chance of showers is moderate, but the chance will decrease later this afternoon and tonight. Wind speeds up to 25 km/hour. Maximum 21.
Thursday: Cloudy. Small chance of showers. Wind speeds up to 25 km/h. Maximum 19.
Friday: Cloudy. Wind speeds up to 25 km/h. Maximum 17.
Perth
Wednesday: Sunny. Wind south to southwest 15 to 25 km/h, light in the late evening. Maximum 31.
Thursday: Sunny. Light winds becoming south-westerly, 20 to 30 km/h, during the middle of the day, becoming southwesterly, 15 to 20 km/h, in the late evening. Maximum 29.
Friday: Mostly sunny. Winds from the south 20 to 30 km/h increasing to 25 to 40 km/h during the day then southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the evening. Maximum 26.
Adelaide
Wednesday: Small chance of showers in the morning. Wind southwest 20 to 30 km/h, turning southwest 15 to 25 km/h in the evening. Maximum 23.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. Wind south to southeast 15 to 20 km/h, trending south to southwest 15 to 25 km/h in the morning and turning to southeast in the evening. Maximum 23.
Friday: Mostly sunny. Wind from northeast to southeast 15 to 20 km/h, trending northwest to southwest during the day and trending east to southeast in the evening. Maximum 29.
heavy thunderstorms, with gale force winds, large hailstones and heavy rain showers in the coming days.
Darwin
Wednesday: Small chance of showers, probably at night. Wind north to northeast 15 to 25 km/hour, light in the evening. Maximum 35.
Thursday: Medium chance of showers. The chance of thunder. Light winds, west to northeast, 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day, then light in the late afternoon. Maximum 35.
Friday: Medium chance of showers. The chance of thunder. Light wind, moderate to northwest 15 to 20 km/h during the day, then light in the evening. Maximum 35.