Australians are warned that it is going to be a wet week as the developing weather system brings severe storms, heavy rainfall and possible flooding.
The ‘unusual’ rainstorm that hit western and central Australia earlier this week is expected to move towards southeastern Australia from Wednesday.
Office of Meteorologist Johnathan How was it explained that a cold front approaching Victoria and Tasmania would ‘coincide’ with tropical moisture bringing lots of rain? to the southeast of the country.
“Thursday looks set to be the wettest day, particularly in eastern New South Wales,” How said.
Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected across much of the state, from the Illawarra region to Greater Sydney and the Greater Hunter areas. Up to 40mm of rain is expected in Sydney.
Canberra is also expected to have its wettest day on Thursday, with up to 25mm of rain. Brisbane’s heaviest rainfall is expected on Friday, with up to 20mm.
On Friday, rain will move to northeastern New South Wales and eastern Queensland. Models indicate that a low pressure area could increase rainfall by 100 to 200 mm.
Australia’s south-east coast is set to get soaked as two weather systems bring heavy rain and gusty winds
“There is sufficient consensus in the model at this point to suggest that the heaviest rainfall, strongest winds and largest waves are likely to occur along the north coast and possibly in parts of the Hunter or Northern Rivers districts,” explains Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino.
Although there is considerable disagreement over the location of the heaviest rainfall, models predict that locally more than 20mm of rain will fall from this system.
“That would be enough rain to cause flash flooding.”
Dramatic temperature swings can be expected again this week as the mercury moves from spring warmth to winter temperatures as the cold front moves north.
Perth will see a maximum temperature of 30 degrees Celsius on Thursday, after which it will drop by more than 10 degrees on Friday to a cool 19 degrees Celsius.
On Tuesday, Melbourne and Canberra both reached 25 degrees Celsius, the warmest day since autumn. However, on Wednesday, temperatures dropped to 15 and 20 degrees respectively.
Sydney is expected to hit 31 degrees on Wednesday, 11 degrees above the monthly average, but will drop to a cool 18 degrees on Thursday.
Wednesday’s spring heat, combined with gusty winds, has increased the fire risk for parts of New South Wales, including the Great Sydney, Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions.
Office of Meteorologist Johnathan How said a cold front approaching Victoria and Tasmania would “combine” with tropical moisture that would bring heavy rain to the province’s southeast from Wednesday
The heaviest rainfall in Sydney is expected on Thursday, with up to 40mm of rain
Sydney
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Average chance of showers. Chance of thunderstorms. Winds up to 30 km/h. Max. 30C.
Thursday: Rain. Windy. Up to 40mm of rainfall. Winds up to 40km/h. Large and powerful waves expected in the evening. Min 13C Max 18C.
Friday: Rain. Up to 25 mm of precipitation. Winds up to 30 km/h. Min 13C Max 19C.
Melbourne
Wednesday: Rain. Up to 15 mm of precipitation. Wind up to 25 km/h. Max. 15C.
Thursday: Cloudy. Small chance of a morning shower. Wind force up to 35 km/h. Min. 9C Max. 14C.
Friday: Sunny. Morning frost spots. Light wind. Min 6C Max 17C.
The near-nationally drenched areas are the result of a north-westerly cloud band in spring that brought rain to northern parts of Western Australia and central Australia before moving east.
Brisbane
Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Chance of smoke haze inland. Wind force up to 25 km/h. Max. 27C.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Average chance of showers in the evening. Wind force up to 25km/h. Min 16C Max 29C.
Friday: Rain. Up to 20 mm of precipitation. Wind up to 20 km/h. Min 17C Max 22C.
Canberra
Wednesday: Rain. Up to 15 mm of precipitation. Wind up to 30 km/h. Max. 20C.
Thursday: Rain. Up to 25 mm of precipitation. Wind up to 25 km/h. Min 3C Max 12C.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Small chance of a shower. Wind force up to 30km/h. Min 2C Max 15C.
Hobart
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Average chance of showers, probably in the evening with possible small hail. Wind force up to 30 km/h. Max. 14C.
Thursday: Cloudy. Small chance of a shower. Possible small hail in the morning. Wind force up to 30 km/h. Min. 4C Max. 13C.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Wind up to 20km/h. Min 4C Max 17C.
Dramatic temperature swings can be expected again this week as the mercury moves from spring warmth to winter weather as the cold front moves north.
Perth
Wednesday: Sunny. Wind up to 30km/h. Max 24C.
Thursday: Sunny. Small chance of a shower. Chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. Wind force up to 40 km/h. Min. 15C Max. 30C.
Friday: Showers. Up to 15 mm of precipitation. Winds up to 35 km/h. Min. 13C Max. 19C.
Adelaide
Wednesday: Cloudy. Average chance of showers. Wind force up to 35km/h. Max 18C.
Thursday: Sunny. Small chance of a shower in the early morning. Wind force up to 30 km/h. Min 7C Max 18C.
Friday: Sunny. Wind up to 20km/h. Max 21C.
Darwin
Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Wind up to 20km/h. Max 34C.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Average chance of showers. Chance of thunderstorms inland. Wind force up to 20 km/h. Min. 25C Max. 33C.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Average chance of showers. Chance of thunderstorms. Winds up to 20 km/h. Min. 25C Max. 33C.