Sydney on track to break record after receiving more than a month of rain in just six days

Heavy rain is forecast to last for another week in Sydney, putting the city on track to break a record for consecutive wet days.

Harbor City recorded more rain in the first six days of May than the monthly average of 117 mm (five inches in the previous measurement) and there is another 34 to 127 mm on the radar for next week.

Along the southern half of the NSW coast, more than 100mm of rain is likely over the weekend, with some areas potentially forecast to receive more than 200mm.

Canberra is also likely to face the deluge.

The port city recorded more rain in the first six days of May than the monthly average of 117mm.

“Persistent coastal rainfall is forecast to continue this week along much of the east coast and adjacent eastern ranges, as a series of high pressure systems crossing Tasmania maintain an overland flow towards New South Wales,” says the Bureau of Meteorology.

On Wednesday morning, Cronulla was dowsed, recording 9mm.

Sydney could also break a rainfall record; Twice, in 1943 and 2022, 16 consecutive days of more than 1 mm of rain were recorded at the Observatory Hill weather station.

This streak of consecutive days of rain began on May 1 and doesn’t look like it will end anytime soon.

“An increased risk of widespread moderate to heavy showers and thunderstorms is also forecast across southern Queensland and much of coastal and inland New South Wales on Friday, into the weekend and early next week due to an upper-level trough moving eastward combining with onshore wet flow,” the office said.

Sydney could also break a rainfall record; twice, in 1943 and 2022, 16 consecutive days of more than 1mm of rain were recorded at the Observatory Hill weather station (pictured, flooding in Queensland over the weekend)

‘From Friday and throughout the weekend, eastern New South Wales will see an increased risk of moderate to heavy falls due to an upper level trough combining with wet onshore flow.

“This may pose a risk of widespread heavy rainfall across the southern half of the coast and adjacent ranges over the weekend and early next week.

“Moderate rainfall accumulations are expected this week in inland and coastal parts of New South Wales, as well as parts of southern Queensland, which may impact areas recently affected by flooding.”

The risk of flooding is particularly high from the NSW Hunter to the south coast, where soils are already saturated.

Brisbane can expect up to 10mm of rain this weekend, although only a drop or two is forecast for the rest of the week.

Melbourne can expect just a millimeter or two over the next seven days, while Hobart will receive rain on Wednesday night.