Warnings in place as 4000km rain band to lash several states
A monster 4000km band of rain spanning two thirds of the nation is sweeping across the several states, bringing some of the heaviest falls in decades.
A monster 4000km band of rain spanning two thirds of the nation is sweeping across the several states over the next 48 hours — bringing the heaviest November rainfall totals in decades.
Several states are on flood watch as already swollen rivers are set to rise rapidly today and tomorrow as the intensifying a band of rain and storms pushes east.
Sky News Weather meteorologist Alison Osborne said the rain and storm event will span 4000km, stretching from the Northern Territory through Queensland, the southeast and then hooking west to South Australia.
“Heavy falls are likely to continue this morning over eastern parts of South Australia and then across Victoria,” she said.
“At the same time the low front marches into New South Wales and the ACT with widespread showers and storms are likely to intensify throughout the afternoon.”
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She said that the red dots really peppered throughout rain forecast map above show widespread potential for heavy rainfall from inland Queensland to New South Wales to Victoria to South Australia.
Queensland has already been hit hard overnight and there is the risk of rapid river rises and further flooding as storms flash up from New South Wales border over central districts all the way through to the Atherton Tablelands.
“At the same time, very humid north-easterly winds will continue to drive showers on shore, so keep an umbrella handy in Brisbane, and the same for you on the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast,” Ms Osborne said.
“The storm threat is very widespread today. Stretching from the Northern Territory through to the southeast. Localised severe storms could bring heavy rainfall, but we also can’t rule out strong gusts and large hail particularly through Western New South Wales and Central Queensland.”
She said it’s difficult to pick exactly where those storms will be, so you should keep up to date with the latest warnings.
It is also forecast to be extremely muggy over the coming days across the affected states.
On Friday, it is anticipated that the system will weaken a touch as it moves off the New South Wales coast, bringing a strong cool change that should reach the Sydney area during Friday afternoon and Brisbane by Saturday.
That will essentially push most of the rain and storms offshore by the end of the weekend, said Ms Osborne.
The wild weather is already creating challenges, with the SES in NSW receiving about 168 calls for help so far, and they’re expected to get plenty more throughout the day.
Queensland has also been hit hard, with Brisbane seeing its wettest November day in two decades and flash flooding right across the southeast.
The BOM has issued a series of flood warnings particularly across Queensland and NSW in the coming days. You can keep up to date with the latest warnings on the bureau’s website.
Sky News Weather senior meteorologist Tom Saunders said this latest wet weather event was being fuelled by the recently declared La Nina.
He said roughly two-thirds of Australia will see rain during the next few days with heavy falls and thunderstorms.
Originally published as Warnings in place as 4000km rain band to lash several states
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