While Australia’s east coast is bracing for a month’s worth of rain in just two days, the country’s most drought-stricken farmers could miss out entirely.
Heavy showers and thunderstorms will fall on parts of New South Wales and Queensland this weekend, bringing the most significant rain in more than six months.
Weatherzone told Daily Mail Australia the system will make its way across the country from Western Australia, through South Australia before reaching NSW and Queensland on Friday.
This map suggests heavy rainfall (in blue and green) will fall on Australia’s east coast and parts of regional NSWs including Pallamallawa and drought-stricken Dubbo
The rain is expected to hit South Australia before reaching NSW and Queensland on Friday (Mareeba in Far North Queensland)
‘Some parts of NSW will get their best rain in about six months or more,’ meteorologist Brett Dutschke said.
‘But a good chunk of far western NSW will get no worthwhile rain at all.’
Mr Dutschke said Brisbane and St George in QLD and Armidale and Dubbo in NSW would be inundated with significant rainfall on Friday and Saturday.
However he said drought-stricken Wanaaring and Pooncarie in regional NSW and Birdsville and Quilpie in regional QLD would likely miss out.
The meteorologist said the system had already begun in South Australia and would hold its intensity as it moved east.
Almost 50mm of rain is expected to fall in Sydney by Friday and the wet weather will continue into the weekend.
Tamworth and surrounding areas will have between a 75 and 90 per cent chance of rain as the system passes over NSW.
As much as 80mm could fall in northern parts of the state.
This map suggests rain will likely fall on NSW’s coastline while parts of the state’s most drought-stricken areas go without
Mr Dutschke said Brisbane and St George in QLD and Armadale and Dubbo in NSW would be inundated with significant rainfall on Friday and Saturday (far north Queensland pictured)
Drought-stricken Wanaaring and Pooncarie in regional NSW and Birdsville and Quilpie in regional QLD would likely miss out
Farmer Scott Todd feeds his sheep cotton seeds on his Brigalow Downs property near Bollon, Queensland, Australia
New South Wales is set to experience downpours this weekend as a system (pictured) makes its way across the state
Sydney has received only 1.4mm of rain in the entire month of August, with average rainfall for the month being 55mm.
The rain comes after a cold start to the week for the east coast, with parts of New South Wales dropping to as low as -2.2C in the north.
Downpours are also expected in Tasmania and southern parts of Victoria, but Melbourne is predicted to miss most of the showers.
The Victorian capital will be dry but temperatures are expected to remain cold.
Sky News meteorologist Rob Sharpe told news.com.au the system will lead to a ‘big area of rain’.
Sydney has received only 1.4mm of rain in the entire month of August, with average rainfall for the month being 55mm (drought affected cattle in outback New South Wales pictured)
‘A front is progressing across southern parts of WA and then as that moves into South Australia, a low pressure system developing will move up and into inland areas,’ he said.
‘Moving with it is a fair bit of upper cold air that will lead to thunderstorms.’
The rain is predicted to increase once the system reaches the east coast.
‘As we move into Friday, this system will run into moisture in the east so rain will develop along the coast and Tablelands.’
Tamworth and surrounding areas will have between a 75 and 90 per cent chance of rain as the system passes over NSW. Pictured: A thirsty emu in Broken Hill, NSW