BOM issues weather alert as 100kph winds set to cause chaos for millions within hours
A powerful system brewing off the East Coast is set to make its presence known from Tuesday, with millions in its path. From coastal gusts to drenching downpours and rivers on flood watch, the midweek forecast is looking messy — and for some, potentially dangerous, the Bureau of Meteorology's Senior Forecaster Angus Hines told Yahoo News.
Here's what's coming, state by state.
A dangerous low-pressure system forming off the east coast is set to unleash widespread heavy rain and strong winds across New South Wales from Tuesday, with the heaviest weather expected on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"We're going to see rainfall spread down through the Mid North Coast, the Hunter region, down through Sydney, into the Illawarra," Hines said.
Rainfall totals of 50 to 150mm are expected across a large stretch from Port Macquarie to the Victorian border, with some locations tipped to exceed 200mm.
"That's enough rain over the course of a couple of days to cause our rivers to start to rise," Hine said. "We've got some rivers on watch already for potential flooding… including up in the Hawkesbury–Nepean Valley and around the Sydney metro area as well as through the Illawarra coast around Wollongong."
Flash flooding is also possible, and strong to damaging winds are forecast. "We could be talking 90 or 100 kilometres per hour gusts through our coastal parts, including again across Sydney, the Hunter, Newcastle, and Wollongong.
"Those winds are certainly strong enough to cause a bit of damage to branches and trees, maybe blow around a few things in the yard, trampolines, fences, the yard roof panel ... and it could cause some power outages as well. It's a nasty stretch of weather ahead for the east coast of the country."
Conditions are expected to ease late Thursday, with clearer skies returning Friday.
Eastern Victoria will also be affected as the system tracks south across the border midweek.
"Tuesday and Wednesday will be the two biggest days for wet weather across the east of the country," Hines said, noting the system's reach will extend into eastern parts of Victoria.
Rainfall totals of 50 to 150mm are expected in affected areas, with higher isolated totals possible. The heaviest rain will likely fall on Wednesday and into Thursday morning, before easing as the system clears offshore later Thursday.
After some decent falls around the Gold Coast and North Stradbroke Island overnight Sunday into Monday, southeast Queensland is expected to dry out as the week goes on.
"That's actually on the way out today,' Hines said Monday. 'A little bit more rain through this morning, maybe into this afternoon, but by tonight, the bulk of that rainfall has all gone and shifted down into NSW".
The rest of the state, particularly northern Queensland, will experience settled and dry conditions for most of the week.
South Australia is set for a cool and mostly dry week. Adelaide can expect mostly sunny to partly cloudy conditions with temperatures ranging from 13C to 16C. A slight chance of showers is forecast for Friday and Saturday, with possible rainfall between 0 to 9mm.
WA escapes the east coast chaos, but two weak winter fronts are set to brush past Perth this week.
"The first of which will arrive this afternoon," Hines said. "It's not a particularly powerful weather system — just a sort of brief line of showers… and maybe a push of some stronger and slightly cooler winds."
A second front is due late Wednesday night into Thursday morning, bringing another round of showers and a brief wind change. "Neither of them is particularly strong," Hines said.
Drivers warned of hidden killer on winter roads after horror crash
Aussies left unable to drive as cold, icy weather takes over
Urgent weather warning after 'hazardous' detail spotted at edge of dam
Tasmania will largely avoid the worst of the east coast system, though rain is forecast for the northeast.
"There'll be a little bit of rain across the east and north of the state," Hines said. "That's likely to begin overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning."
Rain may fall through much of the day on Wednesday, with 30 to 50mm possible in the northeast. Hobart and the south will see "a few showers" but nothing substantial.
"Thursday is when that all clears up," Hines said.
The Northern Territory continues to experience dry and breezy conditions. A high-pressure system moving south of the Bight is directing a dry and relatively cool southeasterly flow over the Territory, maintaining moderate to fresh winds until midweek.
Darwin can expect sunny to partly cloudy skies with temperatures around 31C and a minimal chance of rain throughout the week.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News24
9 hours ago
- News24
Heavy rain, ‘massive surge of water' kill 13 in China, 350 in Pakistan
Heavy rain pounded China. The flood death toll is 13. Around 20 villagers are still trapped under the flood debris in Pakistan. At least three more people have died in heavy rains in northern China, state media said on Tuesday, taking to 13 the death toll in recent storms across the region, with five still missing and no let-up in rain forecast. Downpours heavier than usual have battered parts of China in extreme weather since July, with the East Asian monsoon rains stalling over its north and south. Three bodies were retrieved from flood waters in the Inner Mongolia city of Ordos, the official news agency Xinhua said, while three people were reported missing about 70km away near the banks of the Yellow River. Monday's downpour was the first of three forecast for the next few days, television news said. It dumped more than 204mm of rain in less than 24 hours on the district where the bodies were found, or more than double the monthly average for August, weather authorities said. On Saturday, a flash flood after a river burst its banks in the region's grasslands killed at least 10 people, sweeping away 13 campers on the outskirts of the city of Bayannur, about 350km northwest of Ordos. One of those was rescued, but two are missing. Rescue workers are scouring for the three missing people in Ordos, in an area that is also close to one of China's rare earth hubs, the city of Baotou. Heavy rainfall and severe floods that meteorologists link to climate change pose major challenges for authorities, threatening to overwhelm ageing flood defences, displace millions and lead to economic losses running into billions. AFP reported that in neighbouring Pakistan, around 20 villagers are still trapped under the debris from a torrent of water and rocks which swept down on the village of Dalori on Monday, destroying at least 15 houses, damaging several others and killing nine people. Hussain Ali/Anadolu via Getty Images In the middle of the night, by the glow of their mobile phones, rescuers and villagers dug through the concrete remains of flattened houses after massive rocks crashed down on a remote Pakistani village following a cloudburst. Using hammers, shovels, and in many cases their bare hands to clear the rubble and open blocked pathways, they searched through the debris in darkness, with no electricity in the area. 'A huge bang came from the top of the mountain, and then dark smoke billowed into the sky,' Lal Khan, a 46-year-old local labourer, told AFP. 'A massive surge of water gushed down with the sliding mountain,' he added. The cloudburst above Dalori came a few days into heavy monsoon rains that have already killed more than 350 people across mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, along the northwest border with Afghanistan. Torrential rains in northern Pakistan since Thursday have caused flooding and landslides that have swept away entire villages, with around 200 people still missing.
Bloomberg
19 hours ago
- Bloomberg
Mumbai Drenched by More Rain as Highest Alert Issued for City
Mumbai is facing more heavy rain after a deluge that's delayed flights, disrupted train services and closed schools, with India's weather agency issuing its highest warning for the financial hub. Intense rain spells and wind gusts as high as 65 kilometers (40 miles) per hour are expected to hit parts of Mumbai for several hours, according to an advisory from the India Meteorological Department on Tuesday. The weather bureau issued a red alert, and roads across the city have been flooded.
CBS News
21 hours ago
- CBS News
With repeated flooding, Chicago alders call for action to prevent backflow into basements
Downpours Monday night left several streets flooded in Chicago, yet homeowners kept their fingers crossed that the rain would at least stay outside. The rain left people nervous in particular on the South and West sides. The threat of heavy rain makes them uneasy and worried that sewage will back up in their basement — a nasty sight they are tired of experiencing. Six aldermen agree it is time the city does something. The alleys of homes on California Avenue near 57th Street illustrated what neighbors in the Chicago Lawn and Gage Park communities have been experiencing. Mattresses and furniture sit outside garages. "I threw away all my furniture because I don't want mold," said Ismael Ruvalcaba. Ruvalcaba's basement was inundated with nearly 3 feet of water that rushed into his home from the weekend rains. "it's crazy. There's nothing I can do," Ruvalcaba said. "Doesn't matter if we got pumps or not. They don't help." But it is safe to say Ruvalcaba and his neighbors are looking for help — considering that this is the second time their homes ended up in such a state within three weeks. The cost keeps adding up. Ruvalcaba says he would estimate he has lost $10,000. Rubalcava has made his official 311 complaint to the city, and the CBS News investigative data team shows he's not alone. Since Sunday night, there were nearly 4,800 complaints for water in basements, and 287 complaints for water blocking streets. The five community areas most impacted are Chicago Lawn, Gage Park, West Lawn, Garfield Ridge, and Chatham. "When I talked to them, they said something is wrong with the sewer, but they don't know what's going on," said Ruvalcaba. Ald. Ray Lopez (15th) and five other Southwest Side councilmembers issued a letter to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on the subject. "And unfortunately, unless we figure out how to stop that water from backflowing in, that will continue to happen when we have a huge amount of rain dumped on our streets in a short amount of time," said Lopez. "Residents are scared. They're frustrated. They want answers." The alders are demanding the city do more than stand by and watch. They are insisting the city create a government-funded backflow valve installation program to prevent such flooding from recurring in people's homes. "The problem is none of us know," said Ald. Lopez. "We're not having a conversation with Water Reclamation, we're not having a conversation with our own water department, and we haven't been able to have a real conversation with the Mayor's office until today." The alders say action is needed because people like Ruvalcaba can't wait for possible federal funds. "So I need to do whatever I need to do," he said.
