‘Dangerous’ thunderstorm warning for four Australian states: Here’s what you need to know
Wild storms are expected to batter Australia’s east coast until next week, while a second storm will hit Western Australia.
Areas of northeastern New South Wales and southeastern Queensland have already received more than 200mm of rain, with more storms forecast over the weekend.
South-east Queensland was placed under a severe storm warning from Friday, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning of possible flash flooding and heatwaves.
NSW and Victoria will experience the heaviest storms on Sunday and Monday as a cold front moves south.
Weather zone meteorologist Ashleigh Madden explained that unstable atmospheric conditions caused by the front combined with moist air are expected to produce large thunderstorms.
“This unstable atmosphere is likely to produce a number of severe thunderstorms, with heavy rain and damaging winds posing the greatest risks on Sunday and Monday,” she said.
The front and storm activity is also expected to bring significant rainfall to northern areas of Victoria and south-eastern NSW.
“On Sunday, daily thunderstorm totals could reach 60mm to 80mm, with a risk of flash flooding,” Ms Madden said.
“While rain eases on Monday, thunderstorms will continue across parts of NSW and Queensland early next week.”
Large parts of Western Australia are also at risk for thunderstorms, with the state’s inland regions most at risk of severe conditions.
These areas are likely to experience damaging winds.
Thunderstorms are expected to hit Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland this weekend (Photo: The three-day accumulated rainfall forecast)
South-east Queensland was under a severe storm warning from Friday, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning of possible flash flooding and heatwaves
Brisbane
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Moderate chance of showers, probably in the morning and afternoon. Chance of a thunderstorm in the west. In the morning a light wind from the east, 20 to 30 km/hour. Min. 21. Max. 27.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Small chance of showers in the morning. Wind east to southeast 15 to 20 km/h, turning to northeast 15 to 25 km/h in the afternoon. Min. 21. Max. 27.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Small chance of showers, probably in the afternoon and evening. Chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. Light winds, north to northeast 15 to 20 km/h during the day, then light in the evening. Min. 19. Max. 29.
Sydney
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Moderate chance of showers, probably in the morning and early afternoon. Wind northeast 20 to 30 km/h. Min. 18. Max. 25.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, probably in the afternoon and evening. The chance of thunder. Wind from the northeast 25 to 40 km/h, in the evening it tends to the north 15 to 20 km/h. Min. 19. Max. 28.
Monday: Cloudy. High chance of showers, probably in the morning and afternoon. The chance of thunder. Light winds becoming south to southwest, 15 to 25 km/h in the morning, then turning southeast to 30 km/h during the day. Min. 20. Max. 26.
Melbourne
Saturday: Chance of early morning fog, especially around the outer eastern suburbs and Dandenongs. Mostly sunny day. Wind north 25 to 40 km/h. Min. 11. Max. 34.
Sunday: Cloudy. High chance of showers, probably in the morning and afternoon. The chance of thunder. Wind north 25 to 40 km/h, turning west 25 to 35 km/h in the morning. Min. 22. Max. 26.
Monday: Cloudy. Moderate chance of showers, probably in the morning and afternoon. Wind west 15 to 25 km/h, turning south to southwest 20 to 30 km/h during the day. Min. 13. Max. 20.
Meteorologist Ashleigh Madden explained that unstable atmospheric conditions (forecast highlighted in blue and white) caused by the front combining with moist air is expected to produce large thunderstorms
Canberra
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Small chance of showers. Light winds will become northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon and tend to become northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the late afternoon. Min. 11. Max. 29.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Very high chance of showers. The chance of thunder. Light winds becoming northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h in the morning and tending to northwesterly 25 to 35 km/h during the day. Min. 12. Max. 28.
Monday: Small chance of showers, probably in the morning. Mostly sunny day. Wind northwest 15 to 25 km/h, turning east 15 to 20 km/h in the evening. Min. 12. Max. 25.
Adelaide
Saturday: Mostly sunny morning. Chance of showers in the evening. Winds will be northeasterly 25 to 35 km/h, increasing to 40 km/h before turning cooler westward to southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h in the late afternoon. Min. 19. Max. 37.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Small chance of showers, probably in the morning. There is a chance of thunderstorms around the northern suburbs. Wind west 25 to 40 km/h, turning southwest 20 to 30 km/h in the afternoon. Min. 13. Max. 22.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Wind southwest 15 to 25 km/h, turning southeast to southeast 20 to 30 km/h in the afternoon. Min. 13. Max. 23.
Perth
Saturday: Sunny. Wind south to southeast 25 to 35 km/h. Min. 10. Max. 24.
Sunday: Sunny. Wind east to southeast 25 to 40 km/h becoming easterly 20 to 30 km/h in the evening. Min. 11. Max. 29.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Small chance of showers, probably in the morning and afternoon. There is a chance of a thunderstorm in the northeast. Wind easterly 35 to 50 km/h, trending easterly to southeasterly 25 to 35 km/h in the morning. Min. 16. Max. 32.
Hobart
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Wind northeast 15 to 20 km/h, turning north 25 to 40 km/h late evening. Min. 11. Max. 25.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Very high chance of showers, probably in the afternoon. Wind from the north 20 to 30 km/h, tending to northwesterly 25 to 35 km/h during the day. Min. 15. Max. 25.
Monday: Cloudy. There is a moderate chance of showers in the morning and afternoon. Wind northwest 25 to 35 km/h, turning southwest 20 to 30 km/h in the afternoon, then trending west to southwest 15 to 20 km/h in the evening. Min. 11. Max. 17.
NSW and Victoria will bear the brunt of the storms on Sunday and Monday as a troublesome cold front moves south
Darwin
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Small chance of a shower, probably in the early morning. The chance of thunder. Light winds, north to northeast 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day, then light in the late afternoon. Min. 26. Max. 35.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. The chance of thunder. Light winds, north to northeast 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon, then light in the evening. Min. 26. Max. 35.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. The chance of thunder. Light winds, moderate to 15 to 20 km/h during the day, then light in the afternoon. Min. 26. Max. 35.