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Nearly half of Australia is currently on alert for potential flooding, as several states and territories brace for significant rainfall in the coming days.
This weather event is attributed to a slowly advancing tropical low-pressure system positioned over central Australia, which has prompted severe weather alerts across a region comparable in size to France and Belgium.
The forecast indicates that areas within the Northern Territory, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales will be most affected by the heavy rain beginning today.
Jonathan How, a senior meteorologist with the Bureau of Meteorology, cautions that residents should be prepared for extended periods of rain.
“Although rainfall might start to decrease by late Wednesday into Thursday in the Northern Territory and Queensland, heavy downpours are expected to persist in South Australia and New South Wales throughout the weekend, with conditions extending slightly further south into South Australia by Friday,” he explained.
Authorities in NSW are warning residents in the state’s west to prepare for extreme conditions starting today.
Residents in Tibooburra, Broken Hill, Wilcannia, White Cliffs, Wanaaring and Menindee are advised to stay indoors during severe weather and avoid unnecessary travel.
Rainfall totals of 50mm to 90mm are forecast within 24 hours, with isolated falls up to 130mm possible. In some areas, much of this rain may fall within six hours, increasing the likelihood of rapid creek rises, overland flooding and dangerous driving conditions.
In Victoria, a severe weather warning has been issued for a large area east of Melbourne, including the west and south Gippsland.
From tomorrow, some breaks in the rain are forecast across the NT and Queensland, but damp conditions will continue to build across parts of South Australia and north-western pockets of New South Wales.
Heading into Friday, the rain could extend into central parts of South Australia, including Adelaide.
The wet conditions are likely to linger over Central Australia into the weekend, and possibly continue into next week.
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