Heat, thunderstorms, rain and snow to hit eastern Australia
A powerful atmospheric front will bring abnormal heat, strong winds, thunderstorms, rain with a risk of flooding, and snow in mountainous areas to eastern Australia this weekend. Temperatures close to early-September records are forecast in Sydney and Brisbane, ABC News Australia reports.
Heat and fire danger
Daytime temperatures in Sydney’s suburbs may reach 32–33 degrees Celsius, up to 13 degrees above the September norm. The current record for the first week of the Australian spring at the Observatory Hill weather station is 31.1 degrees, recorded in 2013.
Temperatures slightly above 30 degrees are forecast on the northern coast of New South Wales, while the northwest may see temperatures in the mid-30s. After a dry winter on the coast and due to low soil moisture, hot winds will increase the fire danger. Greater Sydney is forecast to have its first Extreme Fire Danger day of the season and a total fire ban. High fire danger is expected in Illawarra, the Hunter and parts of the state’s north.
In southern Queensland, temperatures may also rise into the mid-30s on Saturday, with a small chance of record figures for early September. Cooler air is expected to push the heat out of eastern and northern New South Wales overnight and reach southeastern Queensland on Sunday evening.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Gusty winds, rain and snow
The front that reached the coast of South Australia is moving rapidly through Victoria and southern parts of New South Wales. Wind gusts may reach around 100 kilometres per hour in some coastal and mountainous areas, creating a risk of falling branches and damage to power lines.
The highest likelihood of thunderstorms is expected in central and eastern Victoria, as well as on the central and southern slopes and in the mountainous areas of New South Wales, including the eastern Riverina. Moderate rainfall is forecast in northern Tasmania and in the alpine regions of Victoria and New South Wales.
Although average rainfall totals are expected to be below 50 millimetres, flood watches have been issued for ten catchments because of wet catchments and elevated river levels following winter rains. Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology warned of possible localised moderate flooding in areas of heavier rainfall in northeastern Victoria. After the rain eases, light snowfall is expected in the high parts of the Australian Alps.
