A low pressure system developing off the New South Wales coast is set to bring heavy rain, strong winds, and chilly temperatures to Australia's east coast this week, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. The system is expected to deliver between 50 and 150mm of rain over a 48-hour period across eastern NSW, with Sydney and Newcastle facing consistent rainfall from Tuesday.
BOM meteorologist Angus Hines warned the system would 'drench and batter' eastern parts of NSW and Victoria, with persistent rain likely for central and southern NSW as well as eastern Victoria. The bureau cautioned that heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding and minor to moderate river level rises.
Strong winds are also forecast to batter eastern NSW and southeast Queensland. Meanwhile, northern Queensland and parts of the Northern Territory are expected to see an unseasonable band of rainfall on Sunday before the weather moves south.
Chilly temperatures are expected nationwide. Sydney will see lows of 8°C and highs of 19°C, with triple-digit rainfall possible on Tuesday. Canberra will experience negative temperatures on most days except Wednesday, with intermittent rain. Melbourne will have scattered showers and lows of 5°C, while Hobart will drop to 2°C early in the week.
Adelaide will be mostly cloudy with showers on Friday and Saturday, and Perth faces a cold front with rain throughout the week. Darwin will enjoy sunny, clear weather with temperatures between 18°C and 30°C.
Despite the cold snap, the Bureau of Meteorology's long-range winter forecast indicates that day and night temperatures are likely to be above average for the season across Australia. However, there is an unseasonal increased fire risk in parts of South Australia and Victoria.
