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Australians on the east coast are being warned to expect a wet and stormy weekend with those in NSW and southern Queensland set to experience severe thunderstorms.
The Bureau of Metereology (BoM) says storms are likely on Friday evening for those across inland Australia through to the east, and including most of the Northern Territory. Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and Sydney are all affected.
It’s being brought by a cold front, a low pressure system and a warm front moving through eastern Australia.
Those storms are likely to increase in severity on Saturday — bringing damaging rains, heavy winds, flash flooding and potentially large hail — towards Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle, Tamworth, Byron Bay and Brisbane.
The BoM says the focus will be NSW Central Coast through to the mid north coast and southern parts of the NSW tablelands.
Senior meteorologist Jonathan How has issued a cautionary forecast, highlighting the potential of severe weather in certain regions. “In these areas, there is a possibility of high-intensity thunderstorms, including severe or even supercell storms,” How explained. These weather events could lead to giant hailstones measuring over five centimeters, accompanied by destructive winds and torrential downpours. Such conditions may also trigger flash flooding, posing significant risks to affected communities.
Conditions will calm for those cities on Sunday, though the rain and storms will hit central and eastern Queensland.
Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia can expect a cold and windy Sunday, with maximum temperatures will be 12 degrees cooler than average.
How reminded residents that severe storms can bring power outages, damage to vehicles and property and travel disruptions and delays, and make driving dangerous.
“Much of south eastern and eastern Australia is set for a number of unsettled days over Friday and also Saturday — it’s all due to a low pressure system and cold front which is making its way through the country,” he said.
“Do make sure you have the latest information and warnings as we head into the weekend.”
