Storm Alert: Heavy Rain and Thunderstorms Forecasted for Eastern Australia This Week

Heavy rain and thunderstorms have been forecasted by Australian weather authorities for Eastern Australia throughout the remainder of the week. The greatest risk will be flooding in low-lying areas, as well as riverine flooding pertaining to the overflow of inland bodies of water like lakes, streams, and rivers. This flooding is common in Eastern Australia, as seen previously in New South Wales and Queensland.

BoM Severe Weather Warning

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) at 3:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, October 4, issued a severe weather warning for heavy rain in New South Wales, portions of Victoria, and southern Queensland, causing renewed flood risks for parts of these states.

The looming inclement weather is likely to renew riverine flooding across a number of already flooded rivers in New South Wales, Victoria, and southern Queensland. Under the warning, there is a widespread moderate to major flooding potentially across inland New South Wales.

In the coming hours and days, flood watches are expected to be issued for multiple river catchments in New South Wales and Victoria, and some river catchments in southern Queensland and Tasmania. This is in line with the anticipated rainfall that will lead to widespread flooding in many rivers.

Heavy Rain and Thunderstorms

The BoM initially forecasted that heavy rain and thunderstorms will increase across southwest Queensland, western New South Wales, and northwest Victoria. This is before the system will impacting southern Queensland, most parts of NSW and northern Victoria on Wednesday, October 5, with wide widespread moderate to heavy downpour.

The areas most affected by torrential rain on Wednesday will be western-southwest Queensland, western-central New South Wales, and northern-northeastern Victoria. Moderate downpours are also possible along the New South Wales South Coast, the Australia weather agency adds.

Flood Warnings

Dams overflow and wet weather has persisted in New South Wales as of Wednesday, as a severe system brings widespread risk of flooding, hail, and thunderstorms, according to The Guardian. As a result, flood warnings have been issued since Eastern Australia's east coast braces for the adverse weather.

The BoM adds that related weather events will develop over central New South Wales and Victoria overnight from Thursday to Friday, October 6 to October 7. This is due to an approaching cold front will eventually move to eastern Victoria and New South Wales on Friday evening.

The agency says that many communities that recently experienced flooding or are currently inundated will likely see overflowing rivers in the coming week. The explanation behind this is the reported saturation of the ground, wherein additional rainfall will cause stream and river levels to rise.

As a result, almost half of the country is on high alert for flooding following the BoM prediction of rainy and stormy weather throughout the rest of the week. This is aggravated by the La Niña wet season that could drench the nation once again. Local authorities warned the public to exercise immediate preparations for floodwaters, ABC News reports.