Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne weather: Storms and heavy rain smashes Australia and the wild weather isn’t over just yet
A weekend of wild weather has drenched large parts of Australia, with most states bracing for severe thunderstorms, high winds and flash flooding.
Six states and territories are monitoring the weather and storms are forecast for Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia, also developing in NSW and the ACT.
Intensive and heavy rain blanketed large parts of Queensland on Sunday, with the Bureau of Meteorology issuing flood warnings for the south-eastern regions and surrounding catchments.
The devastation from the wild weather extended as far as Australia’s east coast, with heavy rain causing washouts on the first day of the Australian Open tennis grand slam in Melbourne as players and spectators took cover.
Storms are likely to bring heavy, locally intense rainfall to parts of Tasmania’s north-west coast and central plateau. causing dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding through Sunday afternoon.
High winds and flash flooding are possible in Victoria with thunderstorms in the central and eastern regions.
Wind speeds of almost 100 km/h were recorded at East Sale Airport on Sunday afternoon.
In south-east Queensland, minor flood warnings are in force for the Bremer River and Warrill Creek, Burrum River and Mary River, while a flood warning has been issued for the Logan River.
A heavy rain shower spoiled the mood at the Australian Open on Sunday
Large specimens along Australia’s east coast, from Far North Queensland to Tasmania, will face water again on Monday
Wind gusts of 66 miles per hour were recorded at Hughenden on Sunday afternoon.
Residents took to social media to post videos of flooding along roads and in the center of towns in the South Burnett region.
“We have high risks of severe thunderstorms stretching all the way from Townsville to Brisbane,” senior meteorologist Angus Hines told AAP.
“Another very active day that is likely to bring further weather impacts, flash flooding, road closures, possible damage to trees, property, crops, as well as the potential for power outages.”
Mr Hines said while Queensland’s central coast has the highest risk of flooding, the risk to all other regions should not be downplayed.
“Flash flooding would happen very quickly if any more rain fell in those places because of how wet it has been – the ground can’t really absorb much more rain,” he said.
The agency predicts showers and storms will continue throughout the week, and while intensity is expected to drop a few notches, severe weather will remain a risk into Wednesday.
Queensland has borne the brunt of the wild weather in recent days. A car is pictured driving through large puddles due to heavy rain in Brisbane on Saturday
Perth
Monday: Partly cloudy.Min19 Max29
Tuesday: Clear skies. Min18 Max26
Wednesday: Sunny. Min15 Max29
Thursday: Sunny. Minimum 19 Maximum 38
Adelaide
Monday: Sunny. Min19 Max31
Tuesday: Sunny. Min17 Max32
Wednesday: Possible showers.Min19 Max26
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Min15 Max25
Melbourne
Monday: Partly cloudy. Min19 Max27
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Min17 Max28
Wednesday: Shower or two. Min19 Max28
Thursday: Shower or two. Min15 Max22
Hobart
Monday: Possible shower.Min17Max22
Tuesday: Cloudy. Min15 Max21
Wednesday: increasing showers. Min15 Max25
Thursday: Possible showers. Min15 Max23
Canberra
Monday: Possible storm. Min14 Max31
Tuesday: Possible rain or storms. Min15 Max31
Wednesday: Showers. Possible thunderstorms. Min15 Max33
Thursday: Possible showers. Min15 Max26
Spectators took cover on the first day of the Australian Open in Melbourne
Sydney
Monday: Partly cloudy. Min21 Max30
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Min21 Max29
Wednesday: Shower or two. Possible thunderstorms. Min22 Max31
Thursday: Shower or two. Min21 Max26
Brisbane
Monday: Shower or two. Possible thunderstorms. Min21 Max29
Tuesday: Possible showers.Min21 Max31
Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Min22 Max31
Thursday: Shower or two. Min22 Max 33