Northern, eastern, and southeastern Queensland are bracing for severe storms, while Melbourne is on track to experience one of its chilliest Christmas days ever recorded. Meanwhile, Perth is gearing up for scorching temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius.

Authorities are advising Australians to remain vigilant, stay updated, and prepare for the country’s extreme weather conditions.

Experts have noted that water vapor imagery indicates exceptionally high humidity levels—a crucial factor for storm formation—extending across northern Australia and into northeastern New South Wales.

Severe thunderstorm alerts have been issued for regions including Wide Bay Burnett, Capricornia, Central Highlands, and Coalfields, where intense rainfall could trigger flash flooding. Areas near the New South Wales border are also at risk of destructive winds and hail.

Queensland is expected to see widespread severe thunderstorms across many areas. Source: AAP.

Severe thunderstorms are forecast for large parts of Queensland. Source: AAP / .

“That’s wind gusts in excess of 90 kilometres per hour,” Scully said, with “a risk of large hail”.

Flood watches remain in force across western Queensland and eastern parts of the Northern Territory as repeated days of rainfall saturate catchments and rivers begin to rise.

“Grounds are getting wet and catchments sodden,” Scully said, warning that roads could be cut off and communities isolated in the coming days, with both flash and riverine flooding possible.

Melbourne swaps summer heat for winter bite

While northern Australia braces for storms, Melbourne is preparing for a cool and subdued Christmas, with a forecast top of just 17C under cloudy and breezy skies.

Cool temperatures are forecast for Melbourne. Source: AAP / Diego Fidele

If temperatures fail to rise above that mark, it would be Melbourne’s fourth-coldest Christmas Day since records began in 1855 — a stark departure from last year’s festive heat, when the city reached 33C.

This year, Victorians are more likely to reach for jumpers than sunscreen.

WA heatwave raises bushfire risk over Christmas

Senior BoM meteorologist Robert Lawry said a deepening west coast trough was driving “very hot conditions” along the west coast, including Perth and the south-west.

Emergency services warned the hot and gusty conditions could significantly increase bushfire danger across the south-west land division.