Wet summer to continue as tropical storms, heavy rain to hit east coast

A ‘severe storm outbreak’ continues across Sydney and up the east coast to Queensland, with more wild weather on the way as a damaging weather system moves in from the nation’s northwest.

Extropical Cyclone Ellie will begin moving across the country on Friday from its current position over northern Western Australia, where it has caused the worst flood emergency in the state’s history.

Thousands of residents and visitors have been stranded in Broome, which has been cut off by flooding, while a flood watch has been put in place for the Sandy Desert, Tanami Desert and Western Desert regions.

The Met Office said ex-TC Ellie was currently inland from Broome and moving slowly but would soon take off.

Aerial imagery showing the extent of flooding of the Fitzroy River in northern WA where Tropical Excyclone Ellie has brought torrential rainfall

Where has the summer gone? Sydney and Brisbane are being hit by heavy rain as evacuations from Western Australia’s worst flooding on record continue.

“It will then move rapidly southeast through the southern Kimberley and northern interior on Friday, before reaching the WA/NT border in the Tanami Desert and Western Desert on Saturday,” the Bureau said.

“Moderate to heavy rain is forecast throughout the Flood Watch area, with 50 to 80mm and isolated totals of 120mm possible Friday and Saturday.”

“Heavy rains will result in significant rises in river levels and flooding in low-lying areas.”

“It is likely that some highways and possibly back roads will be affected and communities will be isolated.”

Sky News Weather meteorologist Rob Sharpe said Ellie would “deteriorate a bit” as it traveled across the country, but would still bring heavy rain of around 50mm to Townsville and Mackay, and as far south as Rockhampton.

“Its tropical moisture will move as far as Queensland, perhaps into northern New South Wales as well, with the risk of heavy rain next week as the moisture persists,” Sharpe said.

The Fitzroy River flooded in northern Western Australia as a result of extropical Cyclone Ellie

Severe storms would continue in Sydney on Friday, particularly in the Blue Mountains area, it said.

As the storms move up the coast into northern NSW and south-eastern Queensland, the weather in Sydney will improve, with sunny days of 25°C and 27°C forecast for Sunday and Monday after a Saturday with average chance of rain.

Canberrans have avoided the storm’s outbreak, with partly cloudy conditions forecast over the weekend and maximum temperatures peaking at 27°C on Sunday.

Sydney is said to experience severe storms on Friday, particularly in the Blue Mountains area.

It is set to warm up over the weekend in Sydney, with sunny days of 25°C and 27°C forecast for next week.

The next four days in Melbourne will bring some of the best weather in the city all summer, with sunny days of 30°C and 33°C on Saturday and Sunday, followed by 29°C on Monday.

Conditions won’t be quite as hot in Hobart, but the Tasmanian capital will remain dry, with temperatures of 19C, 23C and 26C from Friday to Sunday, which will also be the sunniest day of the weekend.

Heavy rain is said to be moving towards Queensland, in the far north of New South Wales, as the cyclone moves towards the northeast of the nation.

Summer temperatures are expected to return early next week as heavy rain and local thunderstorms are said to pass over the weekend.

Adelaide will be completely dry over the weekend amid stinking hot conditions, with highs of 36C and 37C on Saturday and Sunday respectively, while light winds trend north-east across the city, according to the office.

Perth residents could be forgiven for ignoring the wild conditions in the north of Western Australia, with dry conditions ranging from 29-33°C over the weekend and almost no rain in sight, except for a slight 10 percent chance of a thunderstorm Tuesday night.

Where has the summer gone? Sydney and Brisbane are being hit by heavy rain as evacuations from Western Australia’s worst flooding on record continue.

Temperatures are forecast to return to the 20C and early 30C early next week, with Adelaide reaching a blistering 37C.

Darwin’s next seven days feature possible thunderstorms and highs in the 30s, but the heaviest rain will arrive on Friday as ex-TC Ellie remains influential in the region.

Up to 25mm could fall on Friday, while on Saturday there is less chance of morning and afternoon showers and possible showers of only up to 8mm.

Brisbane is also likely to be unaffected by Ellie’s movement next week, with partly cloudy conditions and temperatures in the 30s for the next few days before a moderate chance of showers later in the week around Thursday.