Tropical Cyclone Possibility in the North as Revelers Get Ready for New Year’s Eve

The likelihood of significant rainfall could put some New Year's Eve events in jeopardy, but most of Australia will experience clear, dry nights as revelers ring in 2023.

As the ex-tropical cyclone, Ellie lingers over the northwest, flooding rainfall will continue in northern WA and the NT.

On Saturday, Broome could receive up to 70mm of rain, while the storm's "bullseye" to the northeast of the town could receive more than 300mm.

Australia's record-breaking weather

(Photo : Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

The former cyclone, which has been downgraded to a tropical low, will remain in "pretty much the same spot" for the ensuing few days, according to Sky News Weather meteorologist Rob Sharpe, as per News.au.

According to Mr. Sharpe, the approaching ex-tropical cyclone Ellie is contributing to the northwest's heat pattern by directing southerly winds and their heat all the way to the coast.

Flooding rainfall, especially to the east of Broome and the west of Kununurra, is very likely to occur throughout the WA Kimberley.

What happens to (Ellie) is quite uncertain, and that affects what happens further east.

Darwin is expected to experience daily highs of 31C from this Friday through next Thursday.

There is a small chance that a tropical cyclone will form as the new year approaches in the Gulf of Carpentaria, where the monsoon is also active, according to him.

Experts can't see a cyclone forming in that area if the system in WA is too strong.

Queensland is likely to experience more rain, and it may even get quite heavy at times, especially in many areas of eastern and northern Queensland between mid- and late next week.

On New Year's Eve, Brisbane is currently anticipating a clear night with very light winds and a high temperature of 28C.

The capital of Queensland will experience similar weather throughout the first week of 2023, though there is a slight possibility of showers and a thunderstorm on New Year's Day in the early morning and late afternoon.

According to the Bureau, Saturday could see up to 5mm of rain fall in Canberra, with a medium chance of showers in the late afternoon and early evening.

The temperature in the nation's capital will reach a balmy 26 degrees, and winds will abate just in time for the evening's festivities.

The northern and eastern suburbs of Melbourne have a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms on Saturday afternoon, but conditions are predicted to clear up later in the day as the temperature is predicted to reach 29C.

Melbourne's New Year's Day weather could be miserable with a maximum temperature of 35C predicted.

Tasmanians will experience mostly dry weather, with Hobart reaching 26 degrees on Saturday and a very small chance of precipitation.

Also Read: Australia Weather Update: BoM Forecasts Continuance of Cold Front Into the Weekend

The wettest locations

At least 10 locations in a year with widespread flooding recorded more than half a meter of rain in a single day, as per The Guardian.

With 758mm on February 28, Doon Doon in New South Wales' northern rivers region took first place as the wettest place in 2022.

It was the wettest day in Australia since the late 1990s, but it narrowly missed ranking among the top 10 wettest days nationwide.

The record for the wettest day was set on February 13, 1999, at the Bellenden Ker weather station, which is located on Queensland's second-highest mountain.

After flood waters destroyed the monitors in some areas, it was necessary to estimate rainfall totals based on incomplete data.

The Lismore rain gauge, which has experienced numerous floods, was destroyed during the record-breaking floods in February and wasn't repaired until August.

By the middle of 2022, Sydney had already accumulated 2,000mm of rain.

With 2,474mm as of Thursday, the city is on track to record just under 2,500mm this year.

It surpasses the prior record of 2,194mm set in 1950 and gets closer to Darwin's wettest year, which was 2,777mm in 1998.

With an average rainfall total of just over 295mm in spring alone, the Murray Darling Basin, which is the location of much of Australia's food production, was unusually wet, which easily surpassed the previous record of 251mm set in 2011 and was more than twice the previous spring average of about 120mm.