The weather map every Australian needs to see as rain bomb strikes Sydney

The reality of how bad the weather in Australia is about to get has been exposed in a scary new map.

After a third consecutive La Nina was confirmed last month, the predictions have only gotten worse. Now a general picture is emerging that could mean flooding, heat waves and tropical cyclones from October to April 2023.

The areas most likely to flood because of so much rain are the far north and south east of Queensland, western Sydney and the coast of New South Wales.

Much of Australia’s east coast will experience strong winds for several days from Thursday, reaching gale force in places

Sydney faces a wet weekend with the heaviest falls on Friday and Saturday

The map, produced by the Sky News weather team, showed a more than 70 percent chance of ‘above median’ rainfall for southeastern Queensland, much of NSW and eastern Victoria from October to April 2023.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s forecasts for the three months to Christmas are similar or even worse – especially off the coast of NSW and far north Queensland.

It predicts a 75-80 percent chance of rainfall above the median in those areas.

The BoM’s October to January climate forecast predicts a “wetter than average October to December likely for the eastern half of Australia.”

High wind warnings are in effect for much of the east coast, with gale warnings for the Gold Coast area (pictured, surfers prepare to paddle at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast)

Sky News meteorologist Alison Osborne predicted a ‘colossal’ amount of rain for the eastern states next week (Ms Osborne pictured)

Much of eastern Queensland, much of New South Wales and Victoria, and eastern Tasmania have more than twice the average chance of unusually high rainfall from October to December (in the wettest 20 percent of all such periods in 1981- 2018),’ according to a statement from the BoM.

South East Queensland and especially Sydney are getting a taste of the rain to come this weekend and into the week ahead, with dangerous winds along the east coast.

Sky News meteorologist Alison Osborne predicted ‘a colossal’ amount of rain for the eastern states next week, up to 150mm in places.

South East Queensland and especially Sydney are getting a taste of the rain to come this weekend and next week

The Bureau of Meteorology has confirmed a third consecutive La Nina weather system for this summer

Sydney has a 95 percent chance of rain on Friday and Saturday, although showers will ease on Sunday and Monday and return on Wednesday.

NSW has several weather warnings, including gale-force winds and dangerous surf warnings off the coast of Byron and the mid-north coast on Thursday and Friday.

“People should consider staying out of the water and not walking near surf-exposed areas,” the Bureau of Meteorology warned.

Rock anglers are also warned against fishing from exposed rock platforms and instead are advised to ‘seek a safe location sheltered from the surf’.

A strong wind warning is in place for Thursday and Friday from the Newcastle region to the coast of Bateman’s Bay.

Brisbane and the Gold Coast will see plenty of sunshine on Friday but rain all weekend with the heaviest falls on Sunday.

The Gold Coast is also subject to a gale force warning for Friday, while the Sunshine Coast will see strong winds.

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts a large swath of rain this weekend that will soak much of the coast from NSW all the way to southeastern Queensland.

Much of South East Queensland can expect rain to continue for most of next week, although no heavy rainfall is forecast.

Victoria could also see rain in the middle of next week.

Western Australia is expected to enjoy sunny weather, with strong winds forecast south from Exmouth to Geraldton and beyond.

The BoM also forecast below-average rainfall for Western Australia for November and December.