Intense rain is sweeping across eastern Australia, marking the end of a stifling heatwave as a powerful cold front moves through the region.
It comes after millions of Aussies sweltered through hot and dry weather, as large parts of the country’s east saw temperatures hit the 30s and even low 40s.
The most intense rainfall has hit eastern regions of NSW today, with the Illawarra expected to receive 40-50mm, Sydney likely to see 30-35mm, and northern parts of the state anticipated to get 20-30mm.
‘Sydney has the potential for rain every day through early next week,’ explained Weatherzone Senior Meteorologist Brett Dutschke.
‘Parts of the city will experience rain over the weekend, with thunderstorms likely on most days, including Friday.’
South-east Queensland, including Brisbane, is also expected to get a taste of the wet weather, with rain and thunderstorms forecast until Sunday.
‘The rain system is moving very slowly and will expand across a large area of the eastern seaboard. Over the weekend, it will spread into Victoria and Tasmania, affecting the east coast, nearby ranges, and adjacent interior regions.
Canberra, Hobart, and Darwin are all expected to experience rain over the next week, with thunderstorms also a possibility in each city at some point.
WA’s Kimberley region is also forecast to receive heavy rain.
Intense rain sweeps across eastern Australia, bringing relief from the sweltering temperatures
Forecast map reveals heavy rainfall expected in eastern NSW, southeast Qld, and WA’s Kimberley region over the next seven days
‘These areas will experience increasing humidity, instability, wet conditions and storms,’ Mr Dutschke said.
While temperatures in most of eastern Australia are expected to rise heading into the weekend and early next week, showers and thunderstorms will continue into next week.
Sydney
Wednesday: Showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. Up to 30mm of rain. Winds up to 35km/h. Min 19C Max 24C.
Thursday: Showers. Up to 8mm of rain. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 19C Max 26C.
Friday: Showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. Up to 15mm of rain. Winds up to 20km/h. Min 20C Max 27C.
Saturday: Showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. Up to 7mm of rain. Winds up to 20km/h. Min 21C Max 27C.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day. Min 21C Max 29C.
The wet weather is expected to last for through to the weekend for Sydneysiders
Melbourne
Wednesday: Sunny. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 14C Max 29C.
Thursday: Mostly sunny morning. The chance of a thunderstorm in the outer northwest suburbs in the afternoon and early evening. Winds northerly 15 to 25 km/h becoming east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the evening. Min 18C Max 31C.
Friday: Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower about the nearby hills, near zero chance elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon about the hills. Light winds becoming south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening. Min 19C Max 31C.
Saturday: Sunny morning. Slight chance of a shower in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening, most likely about the hills. Light winds becoming northerly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning then turning east to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon.. Min 20C Max 35C.
Sunday: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds north to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h shifting south to southeasterly during the day. Min 21C Max 27C.
Canberra, Hobart, and Darwin also face rainy spells as thunderstorms remain a risk throughout the week
Brisbane
Wednesday: Possible showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. Winds up to 20km/h. Min 21C Max 29C.
Thursday: Showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. Up to 8mm of rain. Min 21C Max 29C.
Friday: Showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. Up to 15mm of rain. Winds up to 20km/h. Min 22C Max 28C.
Saturday: Showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. Up to 15mm of rain. Winds up to 20km/h. Min 21C Max 27C.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day. Min 21C Max 28C.
Canberra
Wednesday: Slight chance of a shower. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 11C Max 23C.
Thursday: Slight chance of a shower. Winds up to 20km/h. Min 10C Max 28C.
Friday: Showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. Up to 5mm of rain. Winds up to 20km/h. Min 13C Max 27C.
Saturday: Shower or two. Chance of a thunderstorm. Up to 3mm of rain. Min 14C Max 27C.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely later in the day. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds. Min 15C Max 30.
Adelaide
Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Up to 20km/h. Min 15C Max 32C.
Thursday: Slight chance of a shower. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 20C Max 33C.
Friday: Sunny. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 18C Max 33C.
Saturday: Mostly Sunny. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 18C Max 33C.
Sunday: Sunny. Winds southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h tending southeast to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day. Min 19C Max 33C.
Hobart
Wednesday: Sunny. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 9C Max 24C.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. Winds up to 20km/h. Min 14C Max 24C.
Friday: Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 14C Max 27C.
Saturday: Possible shower. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 16C Max 28C.
Sunday: Cloudy. High chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day. Min 18C Max 23C.
Perth
Wednesday: Sunny. Winds up to 20km/h. Min 18C Max 29C.
Thursday: Sunny. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 15C Max 30C.
Friday: Sunny. Winds up to 30km/h. Min 17C Max 27C.
Saturday: Sunny. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 17C Max 29C.
Perth: Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning. Min 16C Max 27C.
It comes after the state sweltered through a heatwave with temperatures soaring to the mid-to high 30s and low 40s (pictured, beachgoers at Bondi Beach)
Darwin
Wednesday: Showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. Up to 9mm of rain. Min 25C Max 34C.
Thursday: Showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. Up to 6mm of rain. Min 26C Max 34C.
Friday: Showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. Up to 4mm of rain. Min 26C Max 34C.
Saturday: Showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. Up to 3mm of rain. Min 25C Max 34C.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds. Min 25C Max 34C.
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