Wild weather, potential floods set to lash Australia’s east coast

It’s set to be a wild week of weather as a warning from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) forecasts severe storms for parts of eastern Australia.

Experts have warned residents to prepare for storm damage as wild weather is forecast to hit the eastern states from Wednesday in the first major storm of the warmer months. Flash flooding, strong winds, and hail are forecast to thrash Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania.

Bureau of Meteorology Meteorologist Mirian Bradbury told 7News what residents could expect to see in the coming days. “Heavy rain and severe thunderstorms are on the way for large parts of eastern Australia in the coming days in the first significant storm outbreak of the season,” Bradbury said.

“A low pressure trough moving over central and eastern Australia is starting to drag moisture down from the tropics, and will deepen with a low over the south-eastern states.

“This will see rain and the risk of storms developing across South Australia, Victoria, central NSW and Southern Queensland becoming more widespread and intense on Wednesday.”

The storm forecast comes after a warning earlier this year from BOM Bureau Climatologist Dr Andrew Watkins for spring to bring above average rainfall for the east following a wetter than usual winter.

“Nationally, we’ve seen the wettest winter since 2016,” Watkins said.

“Australia’s average winter temperature is also expected to be one of the ten warmest on record, particularly in the tropical north. We’ve currently got a negative IOD – a phenomenon which typically brings an increased chance of rainfall to southern and eastern Australia.”

BOM has forecast the wild weather to continue with October to December rainfall likely to be above median for the eastern two-thirds of Australia. People are urged to check the BOM website for regular updates on the storm system.