Australian weather: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth: One million lighting strikes
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More than a million lightning strikes were recorded during a widespread storm that took place in two states this week.
Victoria and New South Wales were hit by massive thunderstorms as a cold front swept from the north-west of the country to the south-east on Monday.
That’s when 1,023,173 lightning strikes were recorded within a 700km radius of Wagga Wagga from early morning to late afternoon according to Weatherzone.
Many of the storms were accompanied by hail and damaging winds, with the highest 60 mph wind gust on record at Wilcannia in western New South Wales.
Wild weather in NSW and Victoria comes as record floods have inundated the Kimberley region of Western Australia, as flood warnings remain in effect in almost all states.
This is what the weather looks like in each state.
More than a million lightning strikes were recorded during a widespread storm that spanned two states this week (Sydney, pictured)
Victoria and New South Wales were hit by huge thunderstorms as a cold front moved in from the northwest. In the image, a woman holding an umbrella.
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.
A shocking amount of lightning was recorded across New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania thanks to the widespread storm, details in photo
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.
Extropical 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, unstable air mass unleashed severe thunderstorms on Wednesday afternoon in parts of New South Wales.
The Weather Bureau advised that severe thunderstorms were detected on weather radar near Bilpin, Colo Heights and Badgerys Creek.
These thunderstorms are moving south and are forecast to affect Camden, Campbelltown, Picton, Richmond, Penrith and Appin.
Large hail was seen in many of the storms like these found near Primrose Sands in Tasmania.
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 35 feet.
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.
Pictured: Scone in NSW
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.
TASMANIA
Cloudy conditions are constant in the southern 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.
A moist, unstable air mass unleashed severe thunderstorms on Wednesday afternoon in parts of New South Wales. Pictured is a woman sheltering from the rain under an umbrella as she crosses a street in Sydney.
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.
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the South Shore District Wednesday afternoon.
It is likely to produce damaging winds, large hail and heavy rain that can cause flash flooding for several 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.
Darwin was wet and humid 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.