Large parts of Australia are preparing to be hit by a new outbreak of torrential rain, summer storms and flash floods that could endanger lives.
The wet start to 2024 continues on Wednesday with almost every capital in the firing line.
Much of Australia’s east coast, from Queensland to Tasmania, will experience the worst of the wild weather.
Sydney is forecast to experience a third rain shower in as many days, along with a possible storm, while residents of Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Hobart and Darwin will also need their umbrellas.
A life-threatening flash flood warning has been issued for parts of southern NSW and north-east Victoria.
On the other side of the country, Tropical Cyclone Anggrek could enter Australian waters within days after a Category 2 system formed in the Indian Ocean 4,000 kilometers off the coast of Western Australia.
A separate cyclone could also form off the Queensland coast within days, bringing more wild weather to the Sunshine State.
More rain is heading towards Sydney on Wednesday after heavy falls on Monday caused major damage to commuters on their way to work (pictured)
Rain and storms are forecast along the east coast, from Queensland to Tasmania
Rain along the east coast will be extensive and persistent in some regions, the Bureau of Meteorology has warned.
“An area of low pressure is moving towards Tasmania, causing a band of rain and storms across the south-eastern states,” explains meteorologist Angus Hines.
‘Widespread wet weather is expected around Tasmania, Victoria, NSW, the ACT and parts of southern Queensland.
‘This is a warning for heavy rainfall. We’re likely to get several hours of rain, which could really lead to some significant accumulations in northeastern Victoria and southern NSW.”
“This could lead to flash floods and even river flooding.”
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for central and northern Victoria and across Bass Strait into northern parts of Tasmania.
The showers and thunderstorms in the southeastern states today will start early in the western regions before moving towards the coast.
It will be a wet Wednesday in most capital cities, except Adelaide and Perth
Australia’s east coast will be hit by more heavy rain and storms. The photo shows a woman battling wild weather in Sydney on Monday
“The most likely threat from Wednesday’s storms is heavy rain and flash flooding due to the excessive moisture in the atmosphere.” ABC meteorologist said Tom Saunders.
“Although a single cell can also produce damaging wind gusts, while large hail is only considered a remote possibility.”
The band of storms will contract towards northeastern NSW and Queensland from Thursday as drier south-westerly winds will wash moisture further south, but moist air will linger near the NSW coast, including Sydney, until early Friday.
Sydney will reach a top of 29 degrees Celsius before showers and a possible thunderstorm later in the day, with heavy falls likely overnight.
A heavy rain and flash flood warning has been issued for NSW Southern Tablelands, the Snowy Mountains, Southwest Slopes and the Riverina.
The ACT is also the firing line.
“Six-hour rainfall totals of 50 to 80mm are likely, while 24-hour totals of 80 to 120mm are possible,” BoM warned.
‘Locally heavy rainfall, which could lead to dangerous, life-threatening flash flooding, may also occur with persistent heavy rain and thunderstorms, with totals of more than 100mm possible in six hours.’
Many Aussies will need to keep their umbrellas handy, including Melburnians (pictured)
In Melbourne, the threat of storms and heavy rain will disappear around lunchtime, while in Tasmania Hobart can expect rain and possible storms throughout the day.
In the Top End, Darwin’s monsoon season continues, with rain and storms forecast
Melbourne, Canberra and Darwin have already recorded their wettest Januarys in years.
Adelaide and Perth will miss the rain, reaching a top of 23 and 31 degrees respectively.
Tropical Cyclone Anggrek is currently near the Cocos Islands and is expected to move south in the coming days.
There are also fears a second cyclone could develop, bringing more wild weather to Queensland next week.
A tropical low in the Coral Sea has a 55 per cent chance of becoming a tropical cyclone from next Sunday, just weeks after Cyclone Jasper caused widespread destruction in far north Queensland.
“The system is expected to remain offshore for the next seven days, but uncertainty about its movement increases from early next week,” the weather bureau warned.
Victoria is in the firing line for more flash flooding. The photo shows the flooded community of Rochester earlier in January