Multiple states are at risk of flash flooding on Thursday, with severe weather warnings issued in New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania. The wet weather battering eastern Australia is being driven by a broad low-pressure trough that has drawn in a lot of tropical moisture across the region, according to Ilana Cherny, a senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM).
Low Pressure System Developing
Cherny explained that within the trough, a low pressure system is developing and is expected to slowly move offshore of New South Wales during Friday. Heavy rainfall, with the potential to cause flash flooding, is forecast for parts of the NSW mid-north coast, the Hunter and adjacent districts from Thursday afternoon.
Senior BoM meteorologist Jonathan How noted that the low pressure system is likely to continue driving heavy rainfall in those areas on Friday. We could see heavy falls and there is a possibility of flooding, he said. Showers are expected to clear away from Sydney and the central coast by the middle of Friday.
Strike Action by NRMA Staff
Meanwhile, NRMA roadside assistance employees in Canberra, Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong began a 24-hour strike over pay and conditions, lasting until midnight. A representative for the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union confirmed the action.
Queensland Under Threat
Heavy rainfall is also forecast on Thursday for southern and south-east parts of Queensland, including the Darling Downs, Wide Bay and Burnett regions. Severe thunderstorms are possible through to the Brisbane area and the south-east coast, Cherny said, adding that there is a risk of damaging wind gusts and large hail. Further severe thunderstorm warnings are expected to be issued throughout the day, particularly through parts of southern Queensland and New South Wales.
Brisbane experienced severe weather on Wednesday, with many roads temporarily closed due to flooding. The city recorded 43mm of rain by 8:30am on Thursday. Significant rainfall totals were also reported in Queensland’s parched southern interior and Darling Downs. The highest total in the 24 hours to 7am on Thursday was 88mm at Tindarra on Bungil Creek, near Roma in the state’s central west. More rain is expected on Thursday, providing relief for local farmers.
Tasmania Flood Warnings
In Tasmania, flood warnings are in place for the St Paul’s River and the South Esk River. Eastern parts of the state have seen rainfall totals exceeding 100mm, with 251mm recorded at Gray. The rainfall is expected to ease over the weekend as the low pressure system moves offshore, but hazardous surf could redevelop up the east coast, Cherny warned.
From Friday evening, a broad ridge of high pressure is expected to maintain mostly mild and dry conditions across northern Australia, How said.
Long-Range Forecast
In the BoM’s latest long-range forecast, released on Thursday afternoon, late autumn rain in the east and west could ease recent dry conditions for some areas, but rainfall is likely to be below average for much of Australia over winter. Most agricultural regions in the country’s south had an early autumn break in March, said BoM climatologist David Wilson, but autumn break rainfall is yet to arrive in a few areas, including central Victoria.
Many sites had their highest May temperatures on record, Wilson noted, including Hobart, which recorded a high of 26.9C on 1 May – its highest temperature for the month since records began in 1882. The climate crisis is making Australia more vulnerable to extreme weather and natural disasters, including intense rainfall. For each 1C of warming, the atmosphere can hold 7% more moisture, and rainfall intensities can be greater than this as raindrops release energy into the system.
