Forecasters are warning of “extremely dangerous” conditions with thunderstones -severe in some areas – plaguing the east coast and interior every day this week.
Millions of Australians could see storms and drenching rains. Along with them is the possibility of flash flooding, fallen trees, and treacherous driving conditions.
“Two broad regions of low pressure are pulling moisture-laden air from the tropics to the outback and east coast, priming these regions for daily thunderstorms,” said Sky News Weather meteorologist Alison Osborne.
In addition, warmer than usual seas around Australia were pumping humidity into the air so as well as being stormy it’s also sweaty.
Parts of south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales around the ranges could be particularly badly hit, said Ms Osborne, “with intense rainfall leading to life-threatening flash flooding, making for extremely dangerous conditions on the road”.
Brisbane could see a very stormy and soggy week ahead.
Tuesday could be very wet for Queensland’s capital with up to 25mm of rain and a muggy high of 30C. Much of the rain could come down if a thunderstorm, possibly severe, eventuates.
Wednesday could see much the same conditions.
The Gold Coast is also likely to see heavy rain and storms.
North of Brisbane those storms will likely be pushed out until later in the week.
Further into northern Queensland should be out of the storm danger zone but it could still be wet in places.
Townsville, however, is looking dry for much of the rest of the week with 33C highs.
Across the border and Byron Bay is looking messy weather wise. A high of 27C on Tuesday could experience up to 30mm of rain and a possible severe storm.
Wednesday could lead to more storms but the rainfall maximum should be cut in half.
Storms can be expected across NSW’s north east and ranges with Grafton, Glen Innes, Inverell, Narrabri and Tamworth all likely to have inclement conditions.
In the state’s central west, places such as Dubbo, storms are possible but rainfall levels should be lower.
Thunderstorms are also possible for the next few days in Sydney. Expect highs of 24-26C on Tuesday and Wednesday with up to 10mm of rain. Similar conditions are in store for Newcastle and Wollongong.
Up to 10mm of rain on Tuesday and Wednesday in Canberra with highs of 26C and possible storms.
Melbourne is forecast to receive some showers over the next couple of days but they will be relatively light with single digit totals in the gauge. The mercury should get to 25C on Tuesday and 20C on Wednesday. Storms are a possibility but are unlikely to be severe.
Light, sporadic rain, some sun and highs of 21-23C in Hobart for the coming days.
A sunny Tuesday in Adelaide with a high of 26C leading into slightly cooler and partly cloudy Wednesday. The rest of the week could be more settled than Australia’s east coast.
Perth is also looking to sit out the current stormy conditions. On Tuesday the sun is expected to make an appearance later in the day with a 25C high. The rest of the week will be mostly blue skies with 30C highs but it may drop to the mid-twenties on Friday.
Inland areas of the WA outback could be stormy, however. Kalgoorlie, for instance, could see thunderstorms on Thursday and Friday as temperatures head up towards the forties.
The state’s north west should be storm free but will be hot with Port Hedland getting to 41C on Thursday.
Darwin will have a string of days topping out at 36C with warm nights of 27C. Storms are possible later in the week.
On Tuesday there is the possibility of storms for Alice Springs in the afternoon and evening with temperatures reaching 36C.
The storm threat should then pass for Alice Springs on Wednesday with a slight dip in temperatures before rising once again towards the weekend.
