Millions of Australians have been warned to prepare for severe thunderstorms, bringing gale-force winds, large hail and heavy downpours in the coming days.
Wild weather is forecast for much of Australia’s east coast on Wednesday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Thunderstorms are likely to become severe across northeastern New South Wales and southeastern Queensland from the afternoon into the evening.
In New South Wales, the storms are expected to bring strong winds, hail and heavy rain that could cause flash flooding for several hours.
Areas likely to be hardest hit by the deluge include parts of the southern coast, the southern plateaus and the Snowy Mountains.
Southeast Queensland can also expect heavy rain, wind and hail.
Regions in the firing line include Rome, St George, Stanthorpe, Bollon, Mitchell, Dirranbandi, Goondiwindi, Inglewood and Mungindi.
Seven News Queensland weather presenter Tony Auden warned wind in the upper atmosphere would increase the risk of a storm.
Sydney and Brisbane residents will need their umbrellas and rain ponchos for the next few days.
Storms are likely to become severe in northeastern New South Wales and southeastern Queensland late on Wednesday. Areas in green and yellow are in the line of fire.
He added that the storms could cause winds of more than 125 km/h and massive hail more than 5 cm in diameter.
Cities likely to see storms on Wednesday are Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra, Weatherwatch’s Ben Domensino said.
Brisbane and the nearby Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast areas are most likely to be affected by the severe weather.
There is a high probability of supercells in eastern Australia, Domensino warned.
These anomalies can cause giant hail, destructive winds, heavy rain, and even tornadoes and waterspouts.
The wild weather is part of a prolonged outbreak of thunderstorms that is expected to cause thousands of lightning strikes across Australia this week.
This is what the weather will be like in your capital over the next few days.
Sydney
Wednesday: Partly cloudy, high chance of rain. Chance of a thunderstorm this afternoon and evening, with greater probability in the west. Winds up to 20 km/h. Maximum 25.
Thursday: Cloudy. Average chance of showers, most likely in the morning and early afternoon. The probability of a storm in the outer west. Winds up to 30 km/h. Maximum 23.
Friday: Cloudy. Average chance of showers. Winds up to 20 km/h. Maximum 23.
Brisbane and the nearby Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast areas are most likely to be affected by the severe weather.
Melbourne
Wednesday: Cloudy. High chance of showers in northern suburbs, medium chance elsewhere. Winds up to 30 km/h. Maximum 20.
Thursday: Cloudy. Slight chance of showers early in the morning. Winds up to 25 km/h. Maximum 18.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Winds up to 20 km/h. Maximum 21.
brisbane
Wednesday: Very high probability of showers, more likely in the afternoon and evening. A late morning storm is likely, possibly intense. Winds up to 20 km/h. Maximum 30.
Thursday: High probability of rain, more likely in the afternoon. The possibility of a storm. Winds up to 20 km/h. Maximum 32.
Friday: Average chance of showers, more likely in the morning and afternoon. The possibility of a storm. Winds up to 25 km/h. Maximum 28.
Canberra
Wednesday: High probability of rain, more likely in the afternoon and early evening. The possibility of a storm. Winds up to 20 km/h. Maximum 25.
Northeastern New South Wales is the part of the state most at risk.
Thursday: High probability of showers, more likely in the morning and afternoon. The possibility of a storm. Winds up to 20 km/h. Maximum 23.
Friday: Cloudy. Little chance of showers. Winds up to 25 km/h. Maximum 24.
hobart
Wednesday: Average chance of showers, becoming less likely in the late afternoon and evening. Winds up to 25 km/h. Maximum 21.
Thursday: Cloudy. Little chance of showers. Winds up to 25 km/h. Maximum 19.
Friday: Cloudy. Winds up to 25 km/h. Maximum 17.
Perth
Wednesday: Sunny. Winds from the south to southwest at 15 to 25 km/h will become light in the late afternoon. Maximum 31.
Thursday: Sunny. Winds will be light southwesterly at 20 to 30 km/h in the middle of the day and then southerly at 15 to 20 km/h in the late afternoon. Maximum 29.
Friday: Mostly sunny. Southerly winds at 20 to 30 km/h increasing to 25 to 40 km/h during the day then turning southeast at 15 to 25 km/h overnight. Maximum 26.
Adelaide
Wednesday: Slight chance of showers during the morning. Winds from the southwest at 20 to 30 km/h turning south at 15 to 25 km/h in the afternoon. Maximum 23.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. Winds from the south to southeast at 15 to 20 km/h, trending south to southwest at 15 to 25 km/h in the morning and turning southeast in the afternoon. Maximum 23.
Friday: Mostly sunny. Winds from the northeast to southeast at 15 to 20 km/h, trending northwest to southwest during the day and then east to southeast at night. Maximum 29.
strong storms, which will bring hurricane-force winds, large hail and heavy downpours in the coming days.
Darwin
Wednesday: Slight chance of showers, more likely at night. Winds from the north to northeast of 15 to 25 km/h becoming light in the afternoon. Maximum 35.
Thursday: Average chance of showers. The possibility of a storm. Light winds becoming northwest to northeast at 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day and then becoming light in the late afternoon. Maximum 35.
Friday: Average chance of showers. The possibility of a storm. Light winds that will blow from the north to the northwest at 15 to 20 km/h during the day and will become light at night. Maximum 35.