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Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Climate
- Sky News AU
Cold front to bring ‘much needed' relief for dry regions with heavy rain set to hammer parts of country's southeast
Torrential conditions forecast for much of Australia's southeast this weekend are looking likely to bring 'much needed' relief for dry regions that have been hit with drought. A sweeping cold front moving through the south of the country is expected to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds with it, with places such as Adelaide set for a drenching. Sky News weather presenter Julia Seymour said showers will be scattered over five states including South Australia, which has seen a rainfall deficit so far in 2025. Some wet weather has already touched down across southeastern parts of South Australia as of Friday afternoon as rain made its way east into Victoria. 'Prior to this, Adelaide itself notched just 47 mm this year, so any rain is very welcome,' Seymour said. "Heavy rainfall and damaging winds are set to continue in southern parts of Australia on Saturday as the cold front pushes east," Seymour said. 'So while it will make for quite a wet weekend for many, it is very much needed rainfall for many areas,' she said. The Bureau of Meterology has forecast 10 to 20 mm of rain could fall in the South Australian capital on Saturday, with up to 9mm possible on Sunday. Rain is looking likely to fall every day over the next week in Melbourne, which could see up to 15 mm of rain on Saturday and 30 mm on Sunday, the BOM has projected. Sky News Meteorologist Marina Neuman said the incoming cold front is looking to 'help with those drought conditions' in affected dry areas of Australia's southeast. Meanwhile, there is a chance of snowfall across alpine areas heading into Saturday, which Neuman said could result in a 'very nice snow total' for ski resorts' opening weekend. 'More snowfall continues throughout Sunday and into Monday as well as even into Tuesday,' Neuman said. Temperatures are also set to remain 'very chilly' across the country's southeast over the next seven days, and Sunday could potentially be Adeliade's coldest day of the year so far with a high of just 13C forecast in the afternoon, she said. In Victoria, overnight temperatures between Sunday and Monday are set to plummet to as low as 0C in Wangaratta and 6C in Melbourne. The BOM issued a severe weather warning on Friday for Adelaide and southeastern parts of South Australia due to strong winds forecast, and winds are set to pick up on Saturday morning after a brief reprieve. Severe weather warnings were also issued for parts of Victoria and the Snowy Mountains, with wind gusts of up to 110km/h for alpine areas of NSW above 1900m possible until early on Saturday. Sydney could avoid the wet weather this weekend completely, as the BOM has forecast a sunny Saturday with a high 19, with partly cloudy conditions and slight chance of shower for Sunday. Brisbane will also likely remain dry according with cloud expected to clear on Saturday to make way for a sunny Sunday with a high of 23.
West Australian
14-05-2025
- Climate
- West Australian
York grain farmer Alex Davies has solid start to the year after unseasonably early seeding
York farmer Alex Davies says he is optimistic about the year ahead but, like most grain farmers this early in the season, is feeling the 'pre-game jitters'. Mr Davies was among many farmers in the Central Wheatbelt who started seeding unseasonably early this year, rolling his airseeder out of the shed on April 1 — three weeks ahead of previous years. He made the decision ahead of predicted light rainfall in mid-April — which ended up totalling 17.5mm — and following the 19.1mm of rainfall that fell on his property in mid-March. With two new crop varieties and a solid start to the year, the third-generation farmer said he did his best to set up the farm for positive results to come out of the 2025 season. 'With what was forecast and what we had in front of us, we thought we'd get into it early instead of worrying about the back-end of the season,' Mr Davies said. 'We had to play the cards we had in our hand at the time. 'It definitely was a good move. At the moment, I'm glad we did it — all of our canola is out of the ground and our oats are just starting to come through.' This year, the Davies' have put in 1000ha each of wheat, barley and oats on their 4000ha property, leaving the inarable land for roughly 2000 sheep. Mr Davies said paddock germination was so far looking 'pretty good', considering the minimal rainfall they had recorded so far. 'It (the rainfall) is not bad but it's not been the best season start we've had,' he said. Mr Davies said was seeding barley and wheat this week, but was concerned with the lack of moisture forecasted in the coming weeks. 'It's not the end of the world, I can't change it. It's too early in the season to worry about it yet,' he said. The latest climate outlook from the Bureau of Meterology is forecasting the month of May to be dry across the entire country, with rainfall anticipated to be below average. Mr Davies — who runs the farm alongside his father, Kevin Davies — stepped onto the farm in a greater capacity in recent years, transitioning to a full-time role while his uncle slowly transitioned out. The ex-research agronomist said his work history and degree in agri-business played a role in developing his farming knowledge, but nothing beat learning directly from the source. 'It's certainly helped but getting back on the farm and being able to work with dad and learn what I can off him has probably been the best,' he said. Aside from current political pressures, the 2025 season has been much the same as last for the York farmers in terms of weather and their seeding program, Mr Davies said. 'We've got some new varieties in that are a bit of a change — Vortex wheat and Goldie oats,' he said. 'They're two new varieties that we bulked up last year in a small area and we're pretty happy with how they performed so I'm pretty excited to see how they'll do this season over a bigger area. 'Our focus has also shifted to oats and canola this year as they were forecasted to be our best earners. 'We're very lucky, we've probably had the best summer we've had for paddock clean-up and maintenance on machinery — credit to the guys working here for what we've been able to pull off.' Mr Davies said York farmers were feeling 'content' and 'pretty-optimistic' about the season ahead but no one was getting too excited just yet. 'Seeding is like the start of a game — everyone runs out on the field with the jitters, trying to find their feet, trying to work out their opponents and what they're going to do. . . that's the excitement everyone's got,' he said. 'Once we start to get halfway through the season, or towards the end of the game, you get a better feel if you're winning or losing.'
Sky News
07-03-2025
- Climate
- Sky News
Storm warning for life-threatening flash floods as Australians ordered to evacuate
Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate their homes in eastern Australia ahead of the arrival of a powerful storm which risks "dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding". Forecasters had predicted Tropical Cyclone Alfred would be the first to hit the area, north of Brisbane, in more than 50 years. But while its intensity has now weakened to a tropical low pressure system, more than 250,000 homes and businesses have already lost power in Queensland and New South Wales. More than 19,000 people have been evacuated from low-lying homes, one person is missing after being swept down a river, and at least 39 people have been rescued from flood waters. 0:28 Public transport and flights have also been suspended as the storm approaches with sustained winds near the centre of 55kph (34mph) and gusts of 85kph (52mph). It is due to make landfall on Saturday between Maroochydore, a coastal town in the Sunshine Coast region, and Bribie Island. Meteorologist Angus Hines from the government's weather agency, the Bureau of Meterology, said: "The rain and the associated flooding... will continue to be very severe and ongoing through Friday and the weekend." He confirmed rainfall totals, for the last 12 hours, were more than 100mm through parts of New South Wales mid-north coast, and as high as 166mm in Meldrum. Despite Alfred weakening to a tropical low, it would continue to bring dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding "particularly to inland parts of southern Queensland and north eastern New South Wales", said Mr Hines. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had been expected to call national elections on Sunday or Monday but has now ruled this out to focus on the response to the cyclone. Earlier on Friday, coastal regions were smashed by wind gusts of more than 100kph (62mph), despite the storm sitting around 200km (124 miles) offshore. Television footage showed surfers riding in the huge seas and people strolling near the beaches, forcing officials to warn residents to stay indoors or prepare to evacuate when asked. "This isn't a time for sightseeing or for seeing what it's like to experience these conditions firsthand. Please stay safe. Be sensible," Mr Albanese said. Nearly 40 people rescued from flood waters In New South Wales, heavy rains lashed down and 39 people had been rescued from flood waters. One man remained missing after being swept down a river, officials in the state said. Flights have been cancelled from Sunshine Coast Airport, which is nearest the storm, along with Brisbane Airport that serves Australia's third-most populous city. Public transport in Brisbane has also been suspended. Officials had described Tropical Storm Alfred as a "very rare event" for Brisbane, Queensland's state capital, with the city last hit by a cyclone more than half a century ago in 1974. Discussing the delayed election announcement, Mr Albanese said: "I have no intention of doing anything that distracts from what we need to do. And what we need to do is to look after each other at this difficult time." A national election must be held by mid-May, but had been expected to happen early so the government could avoid delivering a budget forecast that could show a deficit. "It is our intention to serve a full term," Mr Albanese said in a television interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Warship rescues rower in peril Lithuanian rower Aurimas Mockus, 44, was rowing the 7,500 miles from San Diego, California, to Brisbane by himself when he became stranded in treacherous conditions generated by the storm last week. 0:46 As he rolled 30 times in his partially enclosed boat - in his own words, "like a cat in a washing machine" - an Australian warship battled 16-metre (52-foot) swells to rescue him on Monday. A relieved Mr Mockus told reporters in Sydney he thought he was going to die when he activated his emergency beacon on 28 February and waited three days to be rescued. "I have a lot of problems in my body," he said. "And then I think if I lost my mind, if I lost my belief, what I can fight for my life (with)?"
