Chaotic storms that have drenched parts of southeastern Australia with more than 100mm of rain will be followed by an intense heatwave this week.
While the worst of the wet weather is expected to ease in Victoria, a major rain band could bring thunderstorms to parts of inland Queensland and New South Wales, as well as the state’s Central Coast and Sydney.
Some rain may linger in northeastern NSW before the system clears on Friday, with strong heatwaves set to hit inland Australia.
Parts of the western Kimberley, central Western Australia and western South Australia will experience severe heatwaves from Tuesday.
Low-intensity heatwaves are forecast in northern Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula, parts of the southern Northern Territory, parts of the Pilbara and Kimberley in WA, northern South Africa and south-west Queensland.
Isolated parts of far eastern Victoria, northeastern NSW and parts of southeastern Queensland will also be affected by the warm weather.
Weather zoneAnthony Sharwood warned that summer storms are likely to continue, with the unstable weather patterns seen across much of northern and eastern Australia last week continuing into early December.
“Next week’s rainfall totals may not be as extreme as last week’s in many places, but it will certainly be another active week of stormy weather – and not just in the tropics and eastern Australia,” Sharwood said.
Chaotic storms that brought more than 100mm of rain to parts of southeastern Australia will be followed by an intense heatwave this week (pictured, workers in Brisbane’s CBD)
Strong heat waves are expected to hit large parts of inland Australia from Tuesday
“Indeed there were already active storms in central Australia, far western Queensland and some fairly dry parts of South Australia on Monday morning.”
The meteorologist explained that the unpredictable weather is largely due to a series of interacting low-pressure and high-pressure troughs, and above-average sea surface temperatures in northwestern and southeastern Australia.
Increased rainfall combined with scorching temperatures has led the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council (AFAC) to warn several communities they are at increased risk of bushfires this summer.
Large parts of the NT and Victoria, as well as parts of NSW, WA and SA, have been urged to prepare for a dangerous bushfire season.
Sydney
Wednesday: Cloudy. Small chance of showers in the morning. There is a chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and early afternoon. Light winds, moderate to southeast, 20 to 30 km/h in the morning, then light in the late evening. Min. 21. Max. 25.
Thursday: Cloudy. Light winds, easterly at 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon, then light in the evening. Min. 20. Max. 26.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Chance of morning fog in the west. Small chance of showers. Chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. Light winds, northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the afternoon, then light in the evening. Min. 20. Max. 29.
Unsettled weather patterns seen across much of northern and eastern Australia last week are expected to continue into early December (photo, wet weather in Melbourne)
Melbourne
Wednesday: Sunny. The chance of morning mist over the nearby hills. Wind southerly 15 to 25 km/hour, light in the evening. Min. 13. Max. 23.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. Chance of morning fog. Small chance of an afternoon shower. The wind will blow weakly from 15 to 20 km/hour in the afternoon and become weak in the evening. Min. 13. Max. 32.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Very high chance of showers, probably in the afternoon. The chance of thunder. Light winds becoming north to northeast in the morning, 15 to 20 km/h, then becoming light in the afternoon. Min. 20. Max. 33.
Brisbane
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Small chance of showers. Light winds, 15 to 20 km/h from the northeast during the day, becoming light in the evening. Min. 23. Max. 30.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Small chance of showers, probably in the morning. Light winds, east to northeast 15 to 20 km/h during the day, then light in the evening. Min. 23. Max. 29.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Small chance of showers in the morning. Light winds, becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the afternoon, then becoming light in the evening. Min. 21. Max. 29.
Perth
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. There is a moderate chance of showers in the morning and early afternoon. Wind west 15 to 25 km/h, trending southwest 20 to 30 km/h in the early afternoon, then becoming light in the evening. Min. 17. Max. 25.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. Wind south to southeast 15 to 20 km/h, turning southwest 25 to 35 km/h during the day then trending southerly 15 to 25 km/h in the evening. Min. 13. Max. 26.
Friday: Sunny. Wind southeast 20 to 30 km/h, trending southeast to southwest 25 to 35 km/h in the afternoon, then southeast 20 to 30 km/h in the evening. Min. 15. Max. 29.
Increased rainfall combined with scorching temperatures has led AFAC to warn several communities (highlighted in red) that they are at increased risk of bushfires this summer
Adelaide
Wednesday: Sunny. Wind east to southeast 15 to 20 km/h, becoming light before sunrise, becoming east to southeast 15 to 20 km/h in the late afternoon. Min. 13. Max. 31.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Small chance of showers in the afternoon and evening. Chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. Wind easterly 15 to 20 km/h, trending northeast 15 to 25 km/h in the morning and turning south to southeast in the afternoon. Min. 21. Max. 37.
Friday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers. The chance of thunder. Wind east to southeast 15 to 25 km/h, turning south to southwest 15 to 20 km/h in the morning, then light in the evening. Min. 23. Max. 33.
Hobart
Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Wind west to northwest 15 to 20 km/h, turning southeast in the early afternoon, then light in the evening. Min. 11. Max. 24.
Thursday: Sunny. Light winds, south to southeast 15 to 25 km/h during the afternoon, then light in the evening. Min. 13. Max. 26.
Friday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, probably in the morning and afternoon. Light wind, southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon, then light in the evening. Min. 13. Max. 25.
Canberra
Wednesday: Cloudy. Moderate chance of showers, probably in the morning and afternoon. Chance of thunderstorms in the morning and afternoon. Light winds, east to northeast 15 to 25 km/h in the morning, then light in the late evening. Min. 17. Max. 26.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Small chance of showers. Chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. Light wind. Min. 12. Max. 31.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Chance of morning fog. Moderate chance of showers, probably in the afternoon and evening. The chance of thunder. Light winds, north to northwest 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon, then light in the evening. Min. 16. Max. 33.
A weather map is shown showing precipitation totals for the week through Sunday
Darwin
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, probably in the afternoon. The chance of thunder. Light wind. Min. 26. Max. 32.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers. The chance of thunder. Light wind. Min. 25. Max. 32.
Friday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers. The chance of thunder. Wind east to northeast 15 to 20 km/h, weak during the afternoon. Min. 25. Max. 32.