Australia Day: Thunderstorms to dampen celebrations for millions of Aussies – what the weather will look like near you this long weekend
Thunderstorms threaten to dampen Australia Day celebrations across the country.
While some parts of the country will enjoy blue skies and sunshine on January 26, other areas will be battered by wild storms.
Flood-ravaged North Queensland could even see a category three cyclone devastate the coast over the Bank Holiday.
Before you make plans, here’s the forecast for all of Australia.
SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES
Despite cloudy skies in Sydney, temperatures are expected to rise to 35 degrees Celsius on Friday.
The forecast heat could cool off with a 50 percent chance of rain and possible thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening.
Light winds of around 15 to 20 km per hour are also forecast, keeping Sydneysiders cool.
Despite cloudy skies in Sydney, temperatures are expected to rise to 35 degrees Celsius on Friday
MELBOURNE, VICTORIA
Conditions look cloudy for Melbournians on Friday.
Residents in the southeast should expect showers.
There is also a chance of rain in the rest of the city with partly cloudy conditions all day.
The temperature is expected to remain below 25 degrees.
BRISBANE, QUEEN LAND
A sunny day of 32 degrees Celsius is forecast for Brisbane, but there is a chance of that happening thunderstorms in the evening.
UV is expected to reach as high as 14, with Queenslanders urged to apply sunscreen.
North-easterly winds will reach 25 km/h by afternoon, before turning north at 20 km/h.
Meanwhile, an escalating tropical low will form over the Coral Sea into Cyclone Kirrily late on Tuesday.
Millions of Australians have been told to brace for impact as Cyclone Kirrilly barrels towards Queensland (radar map pictured), dumping up to a meter of rain in some areas
Cyclone Kirrily is expected to make landfall between Cairns and Mackay late Thursday or Friday morning
Authorities have warned that the effects of the wild weather system will be felt as early as the next 24 hours. The residents are told to prepare now.
The tropical low, named 05U, was located about 850km northeast of Townsville on Tuesday morning and is slowly moving southwest towards the Queensland coast.
The system is expected to intensify into a Category 1 cyclone on Tuesday afternoon or evening, before strengthening into a Category 2 or 3 cyclone and making landfall between Cardwell and Airlie Beach late on Thursday or Friday morning.
PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
After a few cloudy days with isolated storms, the weather will clear in time for Friday’s gatherings on the West Coast.
Perth residents should look for a high of 33 degrees Celsius and blue skies with no clouds.
However, UV levels will reach an extreme 13, so Perth residents are reminded to be smart about the sun.
Perth residents should look for a high of 33 degrees Celsius and blue skies with no clouds
Residents in Melbourne’s south-east should also expect a chance of isolated showers
ADELAIDE SOUTH AUSTRALIA
It was originally forecast to be a cloudless day in Australia, but the forecast has changed slightly.
The temperature is expected to reach only 24 degrees Celsius and it will be partly cloudy.
Even though there is a small chance of rain, the chance is small.
HOBART, TASMANIA
Temperatures on Apple Island are expected to reach a high of 21 degrees Celsius on Friday with cloudy conditions.
Some isolated storms are expected.
DARWIN, NORTHERN TERRITORY
At the top, temperatures will reach a high of 31 degrees Celsius, but conditions will be mostly cloudy.
Darwin will most likely experience thunderstorms and has a 90 percent chance of rain
The city is most likely to experience thunderstorms and has a 90 percent chance of rain.
Although up to 25mm of rain is expected, the UV value will reach a dangerous 15.
CANBERRA, ACT
The capital is expected to reach a maximum temperature of 26 degrees Celsius on Friday.
However, it will be cloudy with a high chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon.
There is also a chance of a thunderstorm.