Australians will shiver through another Arctic week with the possibility of a tornado hitting Western Australia as much of the country prepares to get drenched.
A low pressure system will move inland and into south-west WA and the Pilbara region, causing falls of between 15mm and 40mm this week.
Perth will also receive heavy rain this week, with up to 15mm forecast for Wednesday and 25mm for Thursday before skies clear on Saturday.
The arrival of a winter cold front will bring hail and the possibility of a brief “cold season” tornado to southwest Washington, Weatherzone’s Anthony Sharwood said.
“During Thursday and Friday morning, the cold air core and low pressure center will begin to cross the region and become a borderline depression,” he said.
‘Isolated low pressures are low pressure systems that are isolated from the band of westerlies that circulate across the globe south of Australia.
“As the cutoff ushers in colder air, scattered thunderstorms could occur across the Southwest, while small hail is likely and there is even a chance for some brief cold season tornadoes. “.
The Stirling Ranges in WA’s Great Southern region could receive some light snow this week, with Friday morning the most likely time for a flurry.
Australians will shiver for another Arctic week over the possibility of a tornado in Western Australia (pictured, workers escaping the rain in Brisbane)
A low pressure system will move inland and into south-west WA and the Pilbara region, causing falls of between 15mm and 40mm this week (pictured, a map of the weather zone)
Skies are expected to clear over the weekend with temperatures reaching up to 19C in Perth, where the West Eagles will take on the Hawthorn Hawks on Sunday.
Parts of South Australia and Melbourne will be hardest hit by the bad weather, while Sydneysiders can expect a dry but cool week.
Rain will continue across eastern Queensland and move into northern New South Wales, while conditions in the southeast will improve amid the arrival of a high pressure system.
Parts of central Queensland received just over a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours, with wet and wild conditions expected to continue this week.
In the 24 hours to 9am on Wednesday, falls of 30 to 60mm were recorded between Mackay and Townsville with falls of 59.8mm at Mackay Airport.
The trough will continue to produce widespread rain across central Queensland on Wednesday and Thursday, with rain spreading north and southeast.
The rain is expected to ease on Friday, although it will persist in some areas.
Sydney is expected to miss the worst of the bad weather, with a dry and sunny week ahead with a forecast of 21C on Wednesday and 19C on Thursday.
Those living in Melbourne will have a colder week with highs of 14C on Wednesday, 15C on Thursday, 16C on Friday and 14C on Saturday.
Rain is expected in the Victorian capital later this week.
Further north in Brisbane, conditions will be much warmer, with highs of 24°C on Wednesday, 22°C on Thursday and 23°C on Friday (pictured, people enjoying the sunshine in Sydney).
Perth will also experience heavy rain this week with up to 25mm of rain forecast on Thursday.
Adelaide is set to be inundated with heavy rain this week, with 15mm expected on Wednesday and rain continuing well into the weekend.
Canberra is in for a freezing week, with lows of -1C expected on Thursday and Friday, and the country’s capital will remain relatively dry and sunny.
Hobart will be mostly dry this week with high temperatures remaining around 10 degrees with some showers possible on Friday and the weekend.
In Brisbane, conditions will be much warmer with highs of 24°C on Wednesday, 22°C on Thursday and 23°C on Friday.
Darwin will be dry and hot with temperatures remaining in the 30s.