Millions of Australians have been warned to prepare for thunderstorms and heavy rain, as a powerful wet weather system sweeps across the country next week.
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast rain across much of Australia’s east coast, from central Queensland to Tasmania.
Severe thunderstorms are expected in Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria, which could bring heavy rain, damaging winds and hail.
Hines explained that Tuesday would remain relatively dry before wet and stormy weather developed in the evening.
Sydney and Canberra are expected to experience wet weather for the rest of the week, with rain and showers expected to continue into next Monday.
Rain is also forecast for Melbourne on Wednesday.
The cold front and linked trough will cross New South Wales into southern Queensland on Thursday, bringing showers, thunderstorms and gusty winds.
Meanwhile, shower and thunderstorm activity is expected to increase across the tropical north this week, particularly across northern Western Australia and the western Top End.
Pictured is Weatherzone’s predicted rainfall accumulation across Australia until 11am on Sunday 19 January, based on the ECMWF model.
A tropical low currently located over the waters north of Western Australia is expected to remain stationary, with a low probability of becoming a tropical cyclone from Thursday.
Another tropical low is possible to form near the Kimberley coast from Thursday night, with a low chance of intensifying into a tropical cyclone from Friday.
“Regardless of tropical cyclone development, these tropical lows have the potential to bring significant rain, wind and wave impacts to the northern WA coast later this week or next,” BoM said.
Rain forecast for Australia on Wednesday
Rain forecast for Australia on Thursday
Sydney
Tuesday: Possible shower. Thunderstorm chance, possibly severe. Winds up to 20 km/h.
Wednesday: Showers. Chance of storm. Up to 15 mm of rain. Winds up to 40 km/h. Minimum 21°C Maximum 31°C.
Thursday: Showers. Chance of storm. Up to 8 mm of rain. Winds up to 40 km/h. Minimum 19°C Maximum 26°C.
Friday: Showers. Chance of storm. Up to 9 mm of rain. Winds up to 55 km/h. Minimum 18°C Maximum 24°C.
Saturday: Showers. Up to 10 mm of rain. Winds up to 40 km/h. Minimum 18°C Maximum 25°C.
Melbourne
Tuesday: Showers. Chance of storm. Winds up to 20 km/h. Maximum 30C.
Wednesday: Little chance of showers. Winds up to 20 km/h. Minimum 22°C Maximum 33°C.
Thursday: Shower or two. Chance of storm. Winds up to 25 km/h. Minimum 23°C Maximum 37°C.
Friday: Possible shower. Chance of storm. Winds up to 25 km/h. Minimum 21°C Maximum 31°C.
Saturday: Possible shower. Winds up to 25 km/h. Min. 21°C Max. 31°C.
brisbane
Tuesday: Possible shower. Chance of storm. Winds up to 20 km/h. Maximum 30C.
Wednesday: Little chance of showers. Winds up to 20 km/h. Minimum 22°C Maximum 33°C.
Thursday: Shower or two. Chance of storm. Winds up to 25 km/h. Minimum 23°C Maximum 37°C.
Friday: Possible shower. Chance of storm. Winds up to 25 km/h. Minimum 21°C Maximum 31°C.
Saturday: Possible shower. Winds up to 25 km/h. Minimum 21°C Maximum 31°C.
Wet weather is expected to soak much of eastern Australia, with rain stretching from central Queensland to Tasmania.
Canberra
Tuesday: Showers. Chance of storm. Winds up to 20 km/h. Maximum 32C.
Wednesday: Showers. Chance of storm. Up to 10 mm of rain. Winds up to 25 km/h. Minimum 16°C Maximum 32°C.
Thursday: Possible shower. Chance of storm. Winds up to 25 km/h. Minimum 13°C Maximum 25°C.
Friday: Mostly sunny. Little chance of showers. Winds up to 30 km/h. Minimum 10°C Maximum 24°C.
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Little chance of rain. Minimum 11°C Maximum 22°C.
Adelaide
Tuesday: Possible late shower. Winds up to 30 km/h. Maximum 33C.
Wednesday: Shower or two. Winds up to 40 km/h. Minimum 18°C Maximum 24°C.
Thursday: Cloudy. Winds up to 30 km/h. Minimum 15°C Maximum 25°C.
Friday: Mostly sunny. Winds up to 30 km/h. Minimum 17°C Maximum 30°C.
Saturday: Sunny. Winds up to 20 km/h. Minimum 17°C Maximum 32°C.
hobart
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy. Winds up to 20 km/h. Maximum 21C.
Wednesday: Showers. Chance of storm. Up to 15 mm of rain. Winds up to 25 km/h. Minimum 15°C Maximum 25°C.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Little chance of showers. Winds up to 25 km/h. Minimum 15°C Maximum 22°C.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Little chance of showers. Winds up to 25 km/h. Minimum 15°C Maximum 20°C.
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Little chance of showers. Winds up to 25 km/h. Minimum 13°C Maximum 20°C.
Perth
Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Winds up to 35 km/h. Maximum 26C.
Wednesday: Sunny. Winds up to 30 km/h. Minimum 15°C Maximum 30°C.
Thursday: Sunny. Winds up to 35 km/h. Minimum 19°C Maximum 40°C.
Friday: Shower or two. Chance of storm. Up to 5 mm of rain. Winds up to 35 km/h. Minimum 22°C Maximum 30°C.
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Little chance of rain. Winds up to 30 km/h. Minimum 17°C Maximum 26°C.
Darwin
Tuesday: Shower or two. Chance of storm. Winds up to 20 km/h. Maximum 33C.
Wednesday: Showers. Chance of storm. Up to 20 mm of rain. Winds up to 20 km/h. Minimum 25°C Maximum 33°C.
Thursday: Showers. Chance of storm. Up to 35 mm of rain. Winds up to 20 km/h. Minimum 25°C Maximum 32°C.
Friday: Showers. Chance of storm. Up to 35 mm of rain. Winds up to 20 km/h. Minimum 25°C Maximum 32°C.
Saturday: Showers. Chance of storm. Up to 30 mm of rain. Winds up to 20 km/h. Minimum 25°C Maximum 32°C.