Australia weather: Rain bomb to wreak havoc on east coast with flood

Residents of Australia’s east coast have been warned to brace for a huge wet weather system that could linger for more than a week. 

Heavy rain, hailstones, thunderstorms and flooding are forecast for large swathes of the east coast, in particular southern New South Wales and Victoria, beginning Tuesday. 

The miserable, on-and-off weather could last for up to 10 days.

Weatherzone meteorologist Joel Pippard told Daily Mail Australia the downpour will intensify this week with Sydney, Brisbane and potentially Canberra to be drenched with showers and a possible storm next Monday. 

He said ‘every river west of the Great Dividing Range’ would be affected by some kind of flooding as a low pressure system travels from Alice Springs. 

This weather map shows the month-to-date rainfall percentages, with blue shading representing areas that have seen more than 200 percent of their average rainfall this month

While large parts of the east coast can expect to receive a soaking over the next 10 days, the forecaster said the rain won’t be constant.

Mr PIppard said a ‘fairly significant system’ will track east through the Northern Territory and South Australia on Monday and hit the east coast next Wednesday. 

The system is expected to collide with a cold front and bring significant precipitation to Victoria, Canberra and NSW – with residents urged to monitor local forecasts. 

The forecaster said the Murray River in southern NSW was at risk of overflowing but that, luckily, the rain would likely only exacerbate current flooding. 

On Thursday, a trough in the tropics will move down to Western Australia which Mr Pippard said was ‘very unusual’ for this time of year. 

The area – which would normally receive 5mm of rain in September – is forecast to receive 10 to 30mm – quite possibly breaking rain records. 

Darwin is also expected to receive an rare drenching during its dry season.  

This weather map shows the total rainfall expected across Australia from Monday to Thursday

The Bureau of Meteorology said a trough inland moving east is bringing the chance of thunderstorms on Monday for much of New South Wales 

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said severe thunderstorms had developed in the northeast of NSW on Tuesday afternoon, with heavy rain increasing the flood threat in NSW, Victoria and possibly southern Queensland. 

Southern NSW and Victoria received from 5mm to 15mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on Tuesday morning which has continued into the afternoon. 

‘This additional rainfall is not going to be good news for our flood-affected residents and communities across Victoria and NSW,’ a BOM forecaster said. 

Major flood warnings have been issued for rivers in Tamworth, Walgett, Condobolin and Dubbo while moderate warnings remain current for waterways in Albury, Bourke, Ivanhoe and Orange. 

The heavy rainfall is expected to move off the NSW coast with a ‘burst of showers and gusty winds’ on Wednesday night.  

Almost every part of Australia will experience rainfall over the next 10 days as a massive rain bomb engulfs the country

Heavy rain, thunderstorms and flooding is expected for large regions of the east coast, particularly southern New South Wales and Victoria

Some catchments in northern Victoria and southern NSW have already exceeded more than 200 per cent of annual rainfall in just the last month. 

Forecasters are warning three states could see severe thunderstorms over the next three days. 

Moderate to major flooding is set to continue through NSW this week, with the worst of the weather expected on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The state’s east will experience thunderstorms on Tuesday, with strong winds and even hail predicted. 

Heavy rainfall is predicted for NSW’s southern regions on Tuesday and Wednesday

The state’s east will experience thunderstorms on Tuesday, with strong winds and even hail predicted

Another low pressure system is predicted to hit the Kimberley and Pilbara areas of Western Australia early next week – which could bring unseasonable rain.

Broome has seen no rainfall so far through September, but could see significant precipitation to start October. 

A low-pressure system that brought torrential rain and flooded dozens of river systems in inland NSW and the state’s north in the latter part of the week is moving offshore, although forecasters say the situation is still ‘evolving’.

Early on Saturday, flood warnings remained active for 28 river systems from the inland west, through to the Northern Rivers and the Mid North Coast.

BOM has told rsidents to monitor local warnings as thunderstorms are forecast for large parts of NSW (pictured, a weather map showing areas in NSW with a ‘chance of’ storms)

Emergency services used a boat to rescue four people from the Hilux who were found clinging to trees, including a 37-year-old man, a 28-year-old woman, and a young boy and girl. However, the five-year-old boy became trapped in the car before it submerged and was swept away

In the town of Gunnedah, home to 9000 people, major flooding was continuing after the Namoi River peaked at 8.24 metres on Saturday morning. 

At Wee Waa, just 120km northwest, floodwaters are still slowly falling but could remain above major flood levels into next week.

The cotton town is protected by an 8km levee but Narrabri Shire mayor Ron Campbell said the rainfall had destroyed local roads.

‘If we get substantial rain across the summer, we could have a record flood for sure – probably something not seen since the 1970s,’ Mr Campbell said.

The wet weather has caused anxiety in the Tumbulgum community on the Tweed River after its burst its banks and flooded paddocks on Friday.

A five-year-old boy died after becoming trapped in a car last week that was swept away by floodwaters in central western NSW

A five-year-old boy died after becoming trapped in a car that was swept away by floodwaters in central western NSW.

Two vehicles, including a Toyota Hilux, became trapped in floodwaters on McGrane Way at Tullamore, northwest of Parkes, on Friday night.

Emergency services used a boat to rescue four people from the Hilux who were found clinging to trees, including a 37-year-old man, a 28-year-old woman, and a young boy and girl.

However, the five-year-old boy became trapped in the car before it submerged and was swept away.

NSW Police officers started searching on Saturday for the Hilux and at about 3.20pm the boy’s body was located in the still-submerged car by police divers.

His family were taken to Dubbo Base Hospital for observation. The occupants of the second vehicle weren’t injured.

The Hilux has since been retrieved and police are investigating ahead of a report being prepared for the coroner. 

A large low pressure system is set to collide with a cold trough – sparking significant precipitation through Australia’s states and territories