Australia weather: Sydney, Melbourne, Victoria, Brisbane, Perth: Sunny start to 2023 is over
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Australia’s bright and sunny start to 2023 is officially over as wild weather batters the country with giant hail, dangerous high winds, flooding and evacuations.
Record flooding has already inundated the Kimberley region of Western Australia, as flood warnings remain in effect in almost all states.
Extropical Cyclone Ellie is bringing very heavy rainfall to eastern Broome with a chance of up to 200mm in 24 hours.
Parts of NSW had severe thunderstorms on Wednesday afternoon caused by an unstable moist air mass.
This is what the weather looks like in your state.
Australia’s bright and sunny start to 2023 is officially over. Pictured is a woman enjoying the earlier warm weather at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Flooding has inundated the homes of around 1,200 Fitzroy Crossing residents and residents have been airlifted to Broome.
The Fitz Roy River is expected to peak at 15.7 m, breaking flood records by nearly two metres.
Calling it a ‘one in 100 years’ flood event, Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm has issued an urgent evacuation order for Willare and Noonkanbah residents to reach higher ground.
The federal government has approved a request for Australian Defense Force aircraft and personnel to help evacuate residents of Fitzroy Crossing and nearby areas.
Extropical Cyclone Ellie continues to wreak havoc east of Broome with heavy rain expected for the region through Thursday.
They are likely to drop as much as 200mm in 24 hours.
“People in Northern WA experience these types of weather conditions at this time of year, but the widespread nature of this event and associated flooding is unusual and dangerous,” a Met Office spokesperson said.
Locations that may be affected include Broome, Derby, Cape Leveque, Cockatoo Island, Fitzroy Crossing, and Kuri Bay.
On the Dampier Peninsula, they could drop up to 250mm in the next 24 hours.
Record flooding has already inundated the Kimberley region of Western Australia (pictured), as flood warnings remain in effect in almost all states.
Damaging winds are averaging speeds of up to 70 km/h with maximum gusts of around 100 km/h at Cape Leveque, including Broome, through Thursday morning.
Former Tropical Cyclone Ellie is finally expected to move steadily to the east on Friday.
VICTORY
Upstream flooding is prolonging flooding along the Murray River, which is expected to continue through mid to late January.
A moderate flood warning is in effect for Mildura and Wentworth.
Minor flooding is occurring at Wakool Junction, Boundary Bend and Euston.
Edward River at Moulamein dropped below the 4.6m minor flood stage on Tuesday morning and is currently falling.
NEW SOUTH WALES
A moist and unstable air mass has sparked severe thunderstorms on Wednesday afternoon in parts of New South Wales.
The Weather Bureau advises that severe thunderstorms have been detected on weather radar near Bilpin, Colo Heights and Badgerys Creek.
Australia’s east coast (pictured) will be submerged in the coming days
These thunderstorms are moving south and are forecast to affect Camden, Campbelltown, Picton, Richmond, Penrith and Appin.
Damaging winds, hailstones, and heavy rains can cause flash flooding in Grafton, Penrith, Katoomba, Tamworth, Gunnedah, and Tambar Springs.
Extensive flooding is occurring in Menindee, where river levels are currently stable near 10.2 meters.
Further river rise could bring the flood level to 10.7m, above the 1976 flood record of 10.47m.
A moderate flood warning is in effect along the Lachlan River in Hillston and the lower Murrumbidgee River in Balranald.
Minor flooding continues in Booligal.
Upstream floodwaters are causing prolonged flooding along the Murray River.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Ten flood warnings remain in effect for South Australia after they were issued last Friday.
Despite this, the weather has cleared in Adelaide where cloudy but warm conditions will remain until the end of the week.
The sun is expected to rise on Friday, when temperatures in the high 30s hold through the weekend.
Unlike most of the country, Adelaide will be sweltering at the weekend, with temperatures in the 30s. In the photo, two women on a beach.
TASMANIA
Cloudy conditions are constant in the island state for the rest of the week.
However, Hobart will remain relatively dry with temperatures in the high teens.
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Damaging winds, large hail and heavy rains are expected which can lead to flash flooding.
Canberra will be mostly cloudy for the next few days.
QUEENSLAND
Queensland is soaking wet this week as the remnants of extropical Cyclone Ellie blanket most of the state.
It has caused flooding in several regions, including major flooding on the Georgina River and moderate flooding on the Flinders River.
Minor flood warnings are in place for the Norman, Gilbert, Nicholson, Leichhardt, Upper Herbert, and Diamantina rivers.
Severe thunderstorms were issued for the South Shore District Wednesday afternoon.
Wild weather, including heavy rain and flooding, is on the way across much of Australia. In the photo, two women with umbrellas in the rain in Brisbane.
It is likely to produce damaging winds, large hail, and heavy rain that can lead to flash flooding in the coming hours.
Locations that may be affected include Beaudesert, Boonah, and Springbrook.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
The Northern Territory is still covered by a huge swath of rain left behind by extropical Cyclone Ellie.
It’s wet and humid in Darwin on Wednesday, with up to 35mm of rain expected to fall in the northern capital.
Another 25mm is expected to fall each day until the weekend, when the rain is expected to subside.