A “midsummer soaking” could pound parts of Australia in the coming days with up to 120mm of rain and supercell storms while a heatwaves bakes the rest.
It’s been a toasty and dry start to 2022 in many parts of Australia but rain is the next big weather event with much of the country’s south and east set to be absolutely drenched in the coming days.
Melbourne could see between 40-85mm of rain over just three days this week with as much as 50mm filling the gauge in Brisbane.
“A midsummer soaking – just what holiday-makers want,” Sky News Weather senior meteorologist Tom Saunders told news.com.au.
Yet in Perth a heatwave continues with punishing maximums of up to 37C.
The east’s woes are due to the impacts of the remnants of tropic cyclone Seth, which remains off the coast of Queensland with moisture from that being sucked towards Victoria.
“Ex-tropical cyclone Seth continues to bring severe weather to the east coast of Australia,” said Mr Saunders.
“The system on Tuesday is around 200km offshore from the New South Wales / Queensland border and moving very slowly west towards the coast while gradually weakening.”
On Monday, waves peaked at heights of 10 metres off Byron Bay and 9 metres off the Gold Coast.
Wind speeds and wave heights are set to reduce as the low weakens, said Mr Saunders.
“However, as the remnants of Seth reach the coast heavy rain is likely from late Thursday to early Saturday, although the position of the heaviest rain is still unclear and will depend on the exact position of the low when it reaches the coast.”
Brisbane will see a week with highs of 30C most days and lows of 23C. Some rain may fall on Wednesday but it could really crank up on Thursday with 5-25mm of rain, and the same again on Friday.
It only gets heavier as you head south with Surfers Paradise expecting 25-80mm of rain up to Friday and similar for Byron Bay. Coffs Harbour could be wetter still with 45-90mm between Wednesday and Friday.
Wednesday and Thursday could be wet in Sydney with 5-10mm on both days and then lighter showers on Friday. Temperatures should peak in the high twenties with minimums of 22C.
The capital is forecast to record 20-50mm of rain in the coming days with a possible storm on Friday when up to 30mm could fall. Highs of 25-29C in Canberra and dawn lows of 17C.
Indeed, supercell thunderstorms could be a feature this week in the south east. These vicious systems often produce damaging wind gusts, pounding rain and hail. They could head further north into NSW as the week progresses.
‘A lot of rainfall to come’
More than 100mm of rain for large areas of the south east is very possible.
“There is a lot of rainfall to come,” said Sky News Weather meteorologist Rob Sharpe.
And a large chunk of that is likely to fall in Victoria. Between 15-30mm is expected in Melbourne on Wednesday with similar totals on Thursday and Friday. Thunderstorms could occur from Wednesday to Friday.
It’ll remain warm with highs of 26C so that moisture will lead to sticky humidity.
Wodonga is looking at between 65-120mm of rain with the heaviest downpours on Friday and storms possible most days. Bendigo could experience rain totals of up to 80mm and Bairnsdale up to 60mm.
Across the Bass Strait and Tasmania will also be wet but the soggy conditions will dissipate as you go south. Ulverstone, on the north coast, is expected to record 75-120mm between Thursday and Friday. Much lower totals in Hobart with 20-40mm and the heaviest downpours on Friday. Highs this week of 19-24C with lows in the mid-teens.
Heat for Adelaide, Perth, Darwin
A very different story in a sunny Adelaide which will barely be troubled by rain this week.
Maximums in the mid-teens heading towards 30C by the weekend and lows of around 15C.
A low intensity heatwave is forecast for Perth this week only retreating on the weekend.
A high in Perth of 37C on Wednesday and 36C for Friday. Even on the weekend it will only drop to the high thirties. Overnight minimums will likely push past 20C.
Stormy and wet in Darwin with up to 20mm on Wednesday. Temperatures peaking at around 32-34C in the Top End.
Originally published as ‘A lot of rainfall’: Absolute drenching on way for Australia’s south and east
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