A fierce low-pressure system is swirling around Australia bringing rain and storms – but forecasters have warned one area is at particular risk.
There are warnings parts of Australia could see their “heaviest rain event in a decade” in the coming days as the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Tiffany continue to wreak weather havoc.
But in Victoria and Western Australia, heatwaves are the main threat with Perth looking at multiple 40C days.
The fierce low-pressure system is currently over NSW and Queensland, bringing downpours. However it’s South Australia where records might be broken.
“I’m quite concerned about this weather with showers and thunderstorms starting to push in from Thursday,” Sky News Weather meteorologist Rob Sharpe said.
The low-pressure system that formed in the wake of Cyclone Tiffany has led to masses of moisture swirling around the continent with no indication it will clear anytime soon.
“Late this week that tropical moisture will focus over the Northern Territory and South Australia, aided by a deep low-pressure trough,” Mr Sharpe said.
“South Australia’s weather event will also be enhanced by a slow-moving upper level cold pool.”
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‘Heaviest rain in a decade’
“Exactly how much rain is hard to pick but quite a few models are forecasting totals above 100mm north of Adelaide with some pockets up to 150mm,” Mr Sharpe said.
“That would be one of the bigger rain and flood events that we’ve seen in South Australia for quite some time and might be one of the heaviest rain events in about a decade for many areas.”
February 2011 was the last time rain at the same projected level fell in the state. It could lead to significant flooding.
Mr Sharpe said the unsettled conditions are likely to crank up from Friday with “multiple waves” of rain and storms over the state. But with several days to go until then, it is unclear which areas might be most affected.
The Eyre Peninsula, Mid North and Flinders regions are certainly in the system’s sights. But it could spread further afield.
“Adelaide is well and truly at risk this weekend,” Mr Sharpe told news.com.au.
At the moment the forecast for Adelaide has up to 15mm of rain on Saturday and 10mm on Sunday, but that could increase as the week progresses.
Port Augusta is currently looking at 60mm of rain over three days from Friday with similar conditions for Whyalla.
However, the path of large weather systems is not always predictable and the impact on South Australia will become clearer in the coming days.
Rain for NSW and southern Queensland
Before that weather drama, NSW is in the line of the low.
Sydney’s gauge could fill up to 10mm each day for the next few days. But it’s the north of the state that could see really sodden conditions with 60-100mm falling between Tuesday and Friday at Coffs Harbour.
Brisbane could also be soggy. A few showers could come through on Wednesday which should get heavier on Thursday with up to 10mm and similar falls on Friday. Surfers Paradise is looking at 8-20mm on Thursday and 6-15mm on Friday.
The state’s southwest will see a drenching too with Cunnamulla forecast to receive between 10-35mm on Wednesday and Thursday.
Darwin, which Tiffany brushed last week, will see heavy rain and storms every day this week with up to 20mm very normal. The city will top out at 32C.
Up to 10mm of rain is due for Canberra on Tuesday but the rest of the week should be drier.
A low intensity heatwave is creeping into Victoria which will send temperatures higher later in the week.
A mild 21C on Tuesday will head up to 30C on Thursday and then 35C on Sunday. Overnight lows will be around the high-teens.
Punishing heatwaves for Victoria, Western Australia
It will be dry in Hobart and getting warmer. Highs of 19C until Wednesday and then hitting 25C on Friday and Saturday with minimums of 12C.
On the other side of the Nullarbor, the heatwave in Western Australia continues unabated.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of a severe heatwave for Perth and the entire state’s southwest for Tuesday until Thursday.
A high of 39C is forecast on Tuesday and then 40C on Wednesday and not much lower than that every day until Sunday. Overnight, expect temperatures to be as high as 26C.
Albany could hit 35C on Wednesday and 30C on Thursday and Margaret River can expect to reach 37C on Wednesday.
Originally published as Warning that parts of Australia could see their ‘heaviest rain event in a decade’
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