Australians will endure another arctic week with the possibility of a tornado in Western Australia as large parts of the country brace for submersion.
A low pressure system will move inland and towards south-west WA and the Pilbara region, with falls of between 15 and 40mm this week.
Perth will also experience heavy rain this week. 15mm of rain is expected on Wednesday, 25mm on Thursday, before skies clear on Saturday.
The arrival of a winter cold front will bring hail and the chance of a brief ‘cold season’ tornado to south-west WA, Weatherzone’s Anthony Sharwood said.
“Thursday and Friday morning, the core of cold air and low pressure center will cross the region and develop into a low,” he said.
‘Cut-off lows are low-pressure systems that have been cut off from the westerly winds that circulate across the globe south of Australia.
“As the low brings in the coldest air, scattered thunderstorms are possible in the southwest, while small hail is likely, and there is even the chance of a few brief tornadoes in the cold season.”
The Stirling Range, in Western Australia’s Great Southern region, may see light snow this week. The chance of a heavy snow shower is greatest on Friday morning.
Australians will face another Arctic week with the possibility of a tornado in Western Australia (Photo: Workers escape rain in Brisbane)
A low pressure system is moving inland and towards south-west WA and the Pilbara region, with rainfall between 15mm and 40mm (photo, a weather zone map)
Skies are expected to clear this weekend with temperatures reaching 19 degrees Celsius in Perth, where the West Eagles will take on the Hawthorn Hawks on Sunday.
Parts of South Australia and Melbourne will bear the brunt of miserable weather, while Sydneysiders can expect a dry but cool week.
Rain will continue in eastern Queensland and move into northern NSW, while conditions in the south-east will ease with the arrival of a high-pressure system.
Parts of central Queensland received more than a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours, with wet and wild conditions expected to continue this week.
In the 24 hours to 9am on Wednesday, falls of 30 to 60mm were recorded between Mackay and Townsville, with falls of 59.8mm at Mackay Airport.
The trough will continue to bring widespread rain to central Queensland on Wednesday and Thursday, with showers spreading into the north and southeast.
It is expected to rain less on Friday, although there may still be showers in some places.
Sydney will miss the worst of the bad weather, with a dry and sunny week ahead, with 21 degrees forecast on Wednesday and 19 degrees on Thursday.
Those living in Melbourne are in for a colder week with highs of 14C on Wednesday, 15C on Thursday, 16C on Friday and 14C on Saturday.
Rain is expected in the Victorian capital later this week.
Further north in Brisbane, conditions will be much warmer with highs of 24°C on Wednesday, 22°C on Thursday and 23°C on Friday (pictured, people enjoying the sunshine in Sydney)
Perth will also experience heavy rainfall this week, with up to 25mm of rain forecast on Thursday
Adelaide will experience heavy rain this week. Up to 15mm of rain is expected on Wednesday and will continue to rain well into the weekend.
Canberra faces a frosty week with lows of -1 degrees Celsius on Thursday and Friday, with the nation’s capital remaining relatively dry and sunny.
It will be mainly dry in Hobart this week, with highs around 15 degrees Celsius. There may be a few showers on Friday and over the weekend.
In Brisbane, conditions will be much warmer with highs of 24C on Wednesday, 22C on Thursday and 23C on Friday.
In Darwin it will be dry and hot, with temperatures remaining around 30 degrees.