Severe weather warning issued for parts of Australia as temperatures drop: heavy rain and even snow forecast
- Extreme weather is sweeping across central and northern Australia
- Heavy rain, freezing temperatures and even snow forecast
A severe weather warning has been issued for central and northern Australia with torrential rain, freezing temperatures and even snow.
An unusual 3,000 km rain band stretching from the Pilbara and Kimberley, across the outback and across the East Coast, is expected to intensify and wreak havoc in the coming days.
Flood warnings have been issued for the hordes of tourists and campers who have flocked to the region during the winter school holidays.
Uluru received 30.6mm in 12 hours on Monday – about 10 percent of the annual average with more heavy rain forecast for Tuesday,
The unusual weather event at the popular tourist attraction is expected to create beautiful waterfalls against the world-famous rock and change the color of its red face, triggering an influx of visitors.
A 3000 km rain band stretching from the Pilbara and Kimberley, across the outback and across the east coast has hit the country
Rain is forecast every day for the next week in Alice Springs and nighttime temperatures are expected to drop to 3°C.
“It’s a rather lengthy event… For the month of June, the region would normally receive 5 to 20 millimeters. So to predict 50 to 100 millimeters is much more than average,” Billy Lynch, senior forecaster for the Bureau of Meteorology, told the ABC.
Snow is also expected on some of the desert’s highest peaks later in the week.
“(Various weather models) should be treated with caution, but it indicates a significant cold pool is moving through Central Australia on Friday and Saturday,” Lynch said.
“So, strange as it sounds, I don’t want to rule out the possibility of snow on some of those very high peaks.”
Flood warnings have also been issued for the southern and western parts of the Northern Territory.
“Widespread daily precipitation totals of 10-30 millimeters are likely for parts of the flood watch area from (Monday) to Saturday, rising to 20-50 millimeters in the southwest on Tuesday, with isolated heavier falls,” a BOM warning states.
“Total rainfall from (Monday) to Saturday could reach 50-100mm, more than the June average of 5-20mm.”
Rare snow is expected on central Australia’s highest peaks later this week
Pockets in northern and central Australia will experience a severe deluge on Wednesday. The wettest areas are shown in blue
Further south, emergency services are preparing for heavy rainfall in northern South Australia as a private dam in the Adelaide Hills is at risk of failure.
The state emergency service continued to monitor the dams in Hope Forest and Basket Range on Monday evening after the risk of the latter dam’s failure eased.
A wait and action warning remained in effect for the Hope Forest dam, with some road closures for residents.
Nearby homes could be flooded if the dam fails, after persistent rain in recent days increased the risk profile.
Elsewhere in the country, it will be a wet Wednesday in Sydney with more showers and teen highs in the days to come.
Rain is also forecast for Melbourne, Hobart and the rest of the week
In the country’s capital, Canberra will escape the rain but will need to warm up as early morning temperatures dip to zero on Friday.
Brisbane will remain sunny for the rest of the week, as will Perth to the west.
Large parts of Australia will need their umbrellas this week, including Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart and Adelaide
