Substantial rain and storms forecast across eastern Australia

The Bureau of Meteorology have advised that there is a severe weather warning for heavy rainfall is current for New South Wales, parts of Victoria and southern Queensland bringing renewed flood risks for parts of these states.

The rain is likely to lead to river level rises across many already flooded rivers in NSW, Victoria, and southern Queensland, with widespread moderate to major flooding likely across inland NSW.

Flood Watches will be issued for many river catchments in NSW and Victoria, and some river catchments in southern Queensland and Tasmania ahead of anticipated rainfall that will lead to widespread flooding across many rivers.

Rain and thunderstorms will increase tonight across south-west Queensland, western NSW and north-west Victoria, before sweeping across southern Queensland, much of NSW and northern Victoria on Wednesday with widespread moderate to heavy falls.

The main areas forecast to be impacted by heavy rain on Wednesday will be western and south-west Queensland, western and central NSW and northern and north-eastern Victoria. Moderate falls are also possible along the NSW South Coast.

Severe thunderstorms are likely on Wednesday, with heavy rain being the main risk, primarily around south-west Queensland and western NSW.

Widespread daily rainfall totals of 20 – 40 mm are expected on Wednesday across southern Queensland, inland NSW and Northern Victoria. Storm activity could see an increase of rainfall to 40 – 60 mm under storms with isolated totals in excess of 100 mm possible.

On Thursday the heaviest rainfall will be around south-east NSW, the NSW South Coast, north-east Victoria and elevated northern Tasmania.

Further west in South Australia the next cold front will bring another band of showers and isolated storms across SA with more isolated showers and storms across NSW and Victoria.

Thursday night into Friday will see rain and thunderstorms, some severe, rapidly develop through central NSW and Victoria as the cold front approaches then moves into eastern Victoria and NSW on Friday night.

Many communities that recently experienced flooding or are currently in flood will likely see rivers rise in the coming week. The ground remains saturated, and any additional rainfall will cause streams and rivers to rise.

The Bureau is monitoring the rainfall closely. The Bureau updates its forecasts and warnings regularly.

Communities should stay up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings via the Bureau’s website bom.gov.au and the BOM Weather app and follow advice of emergency services.