Australian weather: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth: One million lighting strikes

More than one million lightning strikes were recorded during a widespread storm event that took place across two states this week.

Victoria and NSW were hit by huge thunderstorms as a cold front spread from the north-west of the country all the way to the south-east on Monday.

It was then that 1,023,173 lightning strikes were recorded within 700km of Wagga Wagga from the early morning through to the late evening according to Weatherzone.

Many of the storms were accompanied by large hail and damaging winds, with the largest wind gust of 96km/h recorded in Wilcannia in western NSW. 

The wild weather in NSW and Victoria comes as record-breaking floods have inundated the Kimberley Region in Western Australia as flood warnings remain in place in almost every state. 

Here is what the weather is looking like in each state. 

More than one million lightning strikes were recorded during a widespread storm event that took place across two states this week (Sydney, pictured)

Victoria and NSW were hit by huge thunderstorms as a cold front spread from the north-west. Pictured is a woman holding an umbrella

Victoria and NSW were hit by huge thunderstorms as a cold front spread from the north-west. Pictured is a woman holding an umbrella

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Floodwaters have inundated the homes of around 1,200 Fitzroy Crossing residents with residents being flown to Broome.

The Fitzroy River is expected to peak at 15.7m – exceeding flood records by almost two metres.

Fire and emergency services commissioner Darren Klemm called it ‘a one-in-100 year’ flood event and an urgent evacuation order has been issued for residents of Willare and Noonkanbah to get to higher ground

The Federal government has approved a request for Australian Defence Force aircraft and personnel to help evacuate residents from Fitzroy Crossing and nearby areas.

Ex-tropical Cyclone Ellie continues to wreck havoc east of Broome with heavy rain totals forecast for the region into Thursday.

Up to 200mm are likely to fall in 24 hours.

‘People in the north of WA experience these types of weather conditions at this time of year but the extended nature of this event and associated flooding is unusual and dangerous,’ a spokesman for the Bureau of Meteorology said.

Locations which may be affected include Broome, Derby, Cape Leveque, Cockatoo Island, Fitzroy Crossing and Kuri Bay.

In the Dampier Peninsula, up to 250mm could fall in the next 24 hours.

A shocking number of lightening strikes were recorded in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania thanks to the widespread storm, details pictured

A shocking number of lightening strikes were recorded in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania thanks to the widespread storm, details pictured

Damaging winds are averaging speeds of up to 70km/h with peak gust of around 100km/h occurring at Cape Leveque including Broome until late Thursday morning.

Ex-tropical Cyclone Ellie is expected to finally move steadily to the east on Friday.

VICTORIA

Upstream floodwaters are prolonging flooding along the Murray River which are expected to stick around until mid-to-late January.

A moderate flood warning is in place at Mildura and Wentworth.

Minor flooding is occurring at Wakool Junction, Boundary Bend and Euston.

Edward River at Moulamein fell below the minor flood level of 4.6m on Tuesday morning and is currently falling.

NEW SOUTH WALES

A moist unstable air mass triggered severe thunderstorms on Wednesday afternoon across parts of NSW.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned that severe thunderstorms were detected on the weather radar near Bilpin, Colo Heights and Badgerys Creek.

These thunderstorms are moving towards the south and are forecast to affect Camden, Campbelltown, Picton,  Richmond, Penrith and Appin.

Large hailstones were seen in many of the storms like these found near Primrose Sands in Tasmania

Large hailstones were seen in many of the storms like these found near Primrose Sands in Tasmania

Damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding in Grafton, Penrith, Katoomba, Tamworth, Gunnedah and Tambar Springs.

Major flooding is occurring at Menindee, where river levels are currently steady near 10.20 metres.

A further river rise could bring the flood level to 10.7m – above the 1976 flood record of 10.47 metres.

A moderate flood warning remains in place along the Lachlan River at Hillston and the lower Murrumbidgee River at Balranald.

Minor flooding continues at Booligal.

Upstream flood waters are causing prolonged flooding along the Murray River.

Pictured: Scone in NSW

Pictured: Scone in NSW 

SOUTH AUSTRALIA 

Ten flood warnings remain in place in South Australia after they were issued last Friday.

Despite this the weather has cleared over Adelaide where cloudy but warm conditions will stick around to the end of the week.

The sun is expected to come out by Friday, when temperatures in the high 30s stay for the weekend.

TASMANIA 

Cloudy conditions are constant in the southern state for the rest of the week.

However, Hobart will remain relatively dry with temperatures in the high teens.

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY 

Damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall are expected and may lead to flash flooding.

Canberra will be mostly cloudy in the coming days.  

A moist unstable air mass triggered severe thunderstorms on Wednesday afternoon across parts of NSW. Pictured is a woman sheltering from the rain under an umbrella while crossing a street in Sydney

A moist unstable air mass triggered severe thunderstorms on Wednesday afternoon across parts of NSW. Pictured is a woman sheltering from the rain under an umbrella while crossing a street in Sydney

QUEENSLAND 

Queensland is experiencing a drenching this week as the remnants of Ex-tropical Cyclone Ellie cover most of the state.

It has brought flooding to multiple regions including major flooding on the Georgina River and moderate flooding on the Flinders River.

Minor flood warnings are in place in the Norman, Gilbert, Nicholson, Leichhardt, Upper Herbert and Diamantina rivers.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the Southern Coast district on Wednesday afternoon.

It is likely to produce damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over several hours.

Locations which may be affected include Beaudesert, Boonah and Springbrook.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

The Northern Territory is still covered in a massive band of rain left behind by Ex-tropical Cyclone Ellie.

It was wet and steamy in Darwin on Wednesday, with up to 35mm of rain expected to fall on the northern capital.

Another 25mm is expected to fall each day until the weekend when the rain is expected to ease.

What’s the forecast in your city?

 CANBERRA 

Thursday: Cloudy. Min 10 – Max 21.

Friday: Partly cloudy. Min 9 – Max 21. 

Saturday: Partly cloudy. Min 9 – Max 23. 

SYDNEY 

Thursday: Showers easing.  Min 17 – Max 23. 

Friday: Showers. Min 16 – Max 23.

Saturday: Shower or two. Min 18 – Max 24. 

DARWIN 

Thursday: Showers. Min 25 – Max 31.

Friday: Showers. Min 26 – Max 31.

Saturday: Shower or two. Min 25 – Max 32. 

BRISBANE 

Thursday: Showers. Possible storm. Min 23 – Max 32.

Friday: Partly cloudy. Min 20 – Max 28. 

Saturday: Partly cloudy. Min 20 – Max 29. 

 MELBOURNE 

Thursday: Partly cloudy. Min 15 – Max 23.

Friday: Mostly sunny. Min 13 – Max 26. 

Saturday: Sunny. Min 13 – Max 29. 

ADELAIDE 

Thursday: Partly cloudy. Min 13 – Max 26.

Friday: Sunny. Min 15 – Max 31.

Saturday: Sunny. Min 19 – Max 36. 

PERTH 

Thursday: Sunny. Min 22 – Max 38.

Friday: Partly cloudy. Min 21 – Max 31. 

Saturday: Sunny. Min 14 – Max 29. 

HOBART 

Thursday: Morning shower or two. Min 12 – Max 18.

Friday: Cloudy. Min 11 – Max 19.

Saturday: Cloudy. Min 12 – Max 22. 

 

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