Australians spending the Easter long weekend in the southeastern states could be in for a disaster as a weather system that has soaked the north begins to descend.
The aftermath of former Tropical Cyclone Megan has brought persistent rain to the Northern Territory, parts of Queensland and northeast WA this week, with up to 100mm forecast to fall in some areas in just 48 hours from Monday.
Alice Springs recorded its wettest 72 hours in nine years, with more than 150mm falling on the capital.
Satellite images released by WeatherZone show a 7,000 kilometer band of clouds stretching across the country, east of New Zealand.
While in Queensland, the township of Hughenden in March recorded its heaviest rainfall in three decades.
The system is expected to move south in the coming days, and forecasts suggest it could bring significant rain to southern states over the Easter long weekend starting Friday.
The heaviest falls are expected to affect western and northern New South Wales, northeastern South Africa, northern Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Here is the outlook in each state.
Heavy rain (pictured) expected in parts of Australia over the Easter long weekend
New south Wales
Friday will be partly cloudy in Sydney with a high of 25C and a chance of showers. The weather will remain warm and mostly dry through Sunday before more significant showers arrive on Monday.
The rains are expected to hit hardest in the extreme west and north of the state. Byron Bay is forecast to receive rain throughout the long weekend with a high of 25C.
ACT
Those heading to the nation’s capital over the weekend can expect a few relatively dry days. The mercury will shoot up to 27°C on Saturday.
Showers are expected to arrive on Monday, with an estimated 10mm of rain.
Victory
Melbourne residents can expect a long, warm and dry weekend. A maximum of 30°C is forecast for Saturday.
By Monday, the temperature will drop to a high of 20°C with a high chance of showers.
Victoria and the ACT are expecting a mostly dry long weekend and Melbourne residents are expecting highs of 30C on Saturday (swimmers pictured)
queensland
The humid weather that has been drenching the north of the country will continue this long weekend. Rain is forecast until Monday, with a high of 28C on Friday and Saturday.
In the north, in Townsville, 15mm of rain is forecast to fall on Friday before tapering off to light rain for the rest of the weekend.
SA
Adelaide is expecting a mostly warm and dry weekend with a high of 31C on Saturday. Rain is likely to arrive on Monday.
Tasmania
Hobart will also have a fairly dry weekend, with a high of 23C on Friday and Saturday. A slight chance of rain is forecast for Monday.
Queensland is set to face the worst of wet conditions with rain forecast for much of the long weekend (wet weather map pictured)
Washington
Perth residents are in for a warm but cloudy long weekend. The warmest temperature is expected on Sunday with a maximum of 31 ° C.
New Testament
Significant rain will continue to fall in the northernmost state, with up to 10mm in Darwin each day from Friday to Monday.
