2 months’ worth of rain to hit in 8 days

Coastal dwellers in Queensland can expect a rainy welcome to 2022, with two months of rain expected to hit far north areas in eight days.

Parts of Northern parts of Queensland could see up to 300mm on the North Tropical Coast and Tablelands and parts of the Herbert and Lower Burdekin.

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However, the good news is that the tropical low responsible for the wet whether is likely to “move out to sea and stay out to sea,” Sky News Weather meteorologist Rob Sharpe said on Tuesday.

While minor-to-moderate flooding can be expected in tropical Queensland, rainfalls of 50mm could occur from along Queensland’s mid-north coast on Friday, with the showers shifting along the south coast on Saturday onwards.

“Those falls are quite questionable, it might be lighter than that if the system is further way from the coast line,” said Mr Sharpe.

Elsewhere in the state, a southerly running up the coast will bring cooler temperatures and potential showers from Friday to Sunday. In Brisbane, temperatures are predicted to reach a high of 27C on New Year’s Eve and 26C on New Year’s Day, with a low of 20C on Friday and Saturday. The heaviest rainfall is expected to hit on January 1.

Heatwave predicted for Vic and Tas

After the country’s west coast has been lashed by soaring temperatures, by New Year’s Eve a heatwave could develop in southeastern parts of Australia

“We’ve got a heatwave developing there from about Thursday to Sunday,” said Sky News Weather meteorologist Rob Sharpe on Tuesday.

“We’ll be watching a severe heatwave particularly for Northern Victoria, into the Murray and the far south of NSW and a small pocket of Tasmania.”

However, temperatures will be less extreme in Melbourne. Weather reports in the capital city predict the mercury will climb throughout the week, with a potential high of 34C on December 31 and 36C on January 1. The night will offer some reprieve with lows of 18C and 19C.

New Year revellers in Adelaide will enjoy a week of sun-filled weather, with the potential for overcast skies from Saturday onwards. Despite this, chances for rain remain very slim.

A high of 36C and 37C is predicted for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, with both days expected to hit a low of 21C.

Tropical cyclone predictions wither

While Australia’s Top End will continue to be lashed by heavy rains, damaging winds and possible storms, initial fears of a tropical cyclone has diminished.

A tropical low currently brewing on Northern Territory’s top end will cross over the Gulf of Carpentaria on Tuesday and Wednesday and then the Coral Sea along the northeast coast on Wednesday, bringing with it heavy rainfall, warnings for damaging winds and flooding rain.

While chances of a tropical cyclone developing are low, should one originate, it would be given the name Cyclone Seth.

For Darwin, New Year’s Eve is expected to be mostly sunny, with a high of 34C and low of 27C. New Year’s Day however could bring a possible thunderstorm, the temperature to range from 26C to 33C.

Reprieve for Perth heatwave

After Perth broke a 53-year record for the hottest Christmas ever with a recording of 42.9C at 4pm, the weather is set to continue to remain hot until Thursday. After a spate of highs of 39C and 38C on Tuesday and Wednesday, the mercury will drop to highs of 32C and 33C and lows of 19C and 20C on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Similar temperatures are set for the rest of the week.

However, the Bureau of Meteorology has continued to forecast fire warnings in other parts of the state. As of Tuesday, there continues to be an extreme fire danger warning for the Gascoyne and Coastal Central West – North and a severe fire danger warning for the Central Wheat Belt, Inland Central West, Lower West (including Perth), Pilbara, North Interior and southern areas of the Coastal Central West areas.

Mild weather for the east coast

New Year’s Eve is predicted to be the sunniest day for Sydney-siders this week, with the weather looking overcast on either side of Friday. Highs of 29C are expected for December 31 and January 1 for the CBD, with moderate lows of 18C and 20C.

Western Sydney will experience slightly warmer temperatures. The mercury could hit a high of 33C on Friday in Penrith, with New Year’s Day dropping to 31C, the lows will be 15C and 17C respectively.

Residents in Australia’s capital can expect a week of dry weather. Sunny skies are predicted from Wednesday to Saturday, with potential overcast weather and a slight chance of showers on the cards from Sunday to Monday. Temperatures will hit between 12C to 31C on New Year’s Eve and 13C to 32C on New Year’s Day.

Originally published as NYE weather Australia: Heavy rain for Qld, severe heatwave for Vic, Tas and heat relief for WA