Following a week of intense heatwaves, Australia is now preparing for a significant meteorological shift as cities and towns brace for wet and stormy conditions. After recording temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius in many regions, new forecasts indicate that dramatic rainfall is imminent across the continent.
Nationwide Rainfall and Severe Weather Alerts
According to the latest forecast map from Weatherzone, every Australian state and territory is expected to receive some level of rainfall in the coming days. The Northern Territory and central Australia are anticipated to bear the brunt of the oncoming weather fronts, with the wet and stormy cycles set to impact these areas over the weekend and potentially extend into next week.
Some regions may even experience bouts of flooding, depending on the intensity of the rainfall. Weekly rainfall totals could reach 100 millimetres in certain areas, with others potentially receiving several hundred millimetres within the same timeframe. Marree in South Australia is poised to be hit by a substantial rain event, just days after the township endured temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.
Contrasting Crises: Bushfires and Flooding Threats
While showers are expected to drench cities across Australia only one week after record-breaking hot temperatures, the country faces contrasting environmental crises. Parts of South Australia between Deep Creek and the Fleurieu Peninsula, south of Adelaide, continue to battle lingering bushfires that ignited in recent days.
The SA Country Fire Service has issued warnings, reminding communities to stay out of the current warning area where possible. "Anyone within the impacted area will be allowed to leave via the closed roads but will not be able to return until they are reopened," the service stated, adding that "given the unpredictable nature of this fire, any road closures could change at short notice."
Meanwhile, in Western Australia, severe heatwave warnings remain in effect for the Gascoyne and Central West regions, including Carnarvon and Coral Bay. Temperatures are forecast to reach 42 degrees Celsius in Newman, 39 degrees in Karratha, and 37 degrees between Exmouth and Geraldton across the weekend.
Tropical Cyclone Development and Coastal Impacts
In central Australia, however, flooding is expected to potentially cut off roads and townships as heavy rain batters the regions. The Bureau of Meteorology has upgraded a tropical low travelling over Western Australia and the Northern Territory to tropical cyclone level.
This low-pressure system is forecast to move westwards off the Kimberley coast in northern Western Australia, gradually building strength as it approaches the mainland. The Bureau of Meteorology has also warned of winds reaching up to 120 kilometres per hour in coastal areas as the low passes through on Saturday.
Rain will also affect areas along the east coast as a separate low front moves westward from the Kimberley region, creating a complex weather pattern across the continent.
Capital City Weather Forecasts
Sydney
Saturday: Minimum 22, Maximum 30
Sunday: Showers. Minimum 21, Maximum 25
Monday: Showers. Minimum 20, Maximum 24
Tuesday: Showers. Minimum 21, Maximum 26
Canberra
Saturday: Possible Showers. Minimum 17, Maximum 33
Sunday: Possible showers. Minimum 17, Maximum 24
Monday: Shower or two. Minimum 16, Maximum 25
Tuesday: Shower or two. Minimum 17, Maximum 30
Melbourne
Saturday: Minimum 17, Maximum 25
Sunday: Cloudy. Minimum 18, Maximum 25
Monday: Cloudy. Minimum 18, Maximum 25
Tuesday: Cloudy. Minimum 20, Maximum 27
Showers will sprinkle across Sydney and Canberra, providing some relief from the recent heat but potentially causing disruption.
Hobart
Saturday: Minimum 15, Maximum 20
Sunday: Possible showers. Minimum 14, Maximum 22
Monday: Cloudy. Minimum 15, Maximum 23
Tuesday: Cloudy. Minimum 16, Maximum 24
Adelaide
Saturday: Minimum 21, Maximum 33
Sunday: Sunny. Minimum 18, Maximum 32
Monday: Sunny. Minimum 17, Maximum 30
Tuesday: Partially Cloudy. Minimum 24, Maximum 32
Adelaide and parts of Western Australia will remain relatively hot over the next week, contrasting with the cooler, wetter conditions expected elsewhere.
Perth
Saturday: Minimum 22, Maximum 23
Sunday: Sunny. Minimum 23, Maximum 34
Monday: Cloudy. Minimum 20, Maximum 32
Tuesday: Cloudy. Minimum 17, Maximum 28
Darwin
Saturday: Minimum 26, Maximum 31
Sunday: Cloudy. Minimum 26, Maximum 31
Monday: Sunny. Minimum 26, Maximum 30
Tuesday: Cloudy. Minimum 26, Maximum 30
Brisbane
Saturday: Minimum 22, Maximum 30
Sunday: Cloudy. Minimum 22, Maximum 30
Monday: Cloudy. Minimum 24, Maximum 31
Tuesday: Cloudy. Minimum 24, Maximum 32
This diverse weather pattern highlights Australia's extreme climate variability, with communities simultaneously preparing for heatwaves, bushfires, storms, and potential flooding across different regions.
