G'day from the bureau, with your national weather forecast for Thursday the 22nd of October, and it's going to be an active one for much of the country, with rain and thunderstorms through eastern, northern and central parts of Australia. But all eyes will be on north-east New South Wales and south-east Queensland.

We're likely to see widespread rain and thunderstorms and some of them could be severe, particularly through our inland areas of Queensland with large hail, damaging winds and heavy rainfall, and we could have a bit of a flash flood threat through north-east New South Wales and south-east Queensland with those storms and heavy rain areas.

And for more details on that, we have issued a weather video, so check that out. Further, we've got showers and thunderstorms across much of northern and central Australia. Warm, dry and humid, turning hot in some areas for south-eastern parts of the country. Thanks to that high pressure ridge.

And then we should see some cooler conditions and maybe a front approaching the far south-west tomorrow night. Let's have a look at all of this in more detail.

Firstly, in Queensland we'll be watching that rain and thunderstorms through much of south-eastern Queensland. And they'll extend along a trough through central and into western and northern Queensland during the afternoon and evening with those showers and thunderstorms. And some of them could be severe throughout central inland interior as well, with large hail, damaging winds and heavy rainfall.

While further south in the south-eastern parts of Queensland, heavy falls will be the main player. Temperature-wise, are going to be pretty cool conditions. I'll get out of the way here.

Low 20s through south-eastern parts of Queensland, mid to high 20s up the coast and then low 30s through our northern coastal areas and high 30s throughout inland areas through northern and western Queensland.

But notice all this weather will be kind of to the east and north of this trough you see here laying through Queensland, while the far south-west of Queensland will stay dry, hot and sunny. Brisbane looking at a wet day, 22 °C. Widespread showers, rain and thunderstorms and some of them could be heavy enough to bring flash flooding, so watch out for that. Moving down into New South Wales and a similar story.

Widespread rain and thunderstorms, particularly through the Northern Rivers, North-west Slopes and Plains and Tablelands, could see heavy falls there. Rain extending down into the Mid North, Hunter even, and down into the Central Coast and even down into Sydney as well, though lighter falls are expected down towards here.

Adjacent ranges also looking pretty wet, but pretty dry as you get west of that trough. The western and south-western New South Wales. Temperatures pretty cool under all that cloud and rain in the low to mid 20s for our coastal areas, and getting mid to high 20s to low 30s out in the west as well.

Sydney looking at a few showers but not as wet as what it is in northern New South Wales. 23 °C, Canberra 23 °C with showers after a cool start.

Moving down into Victoria and it is more like a summer than mid-October, with temperatures in the high 20s to low 30s statewide with lots of sunshine. Could see a few afternoon clouds build up as well. Those white fluffy clouds you see on those warm, humid days, but generally very warm day right across the state.

Maybe it's a chance for a shower or storm for our eastern ranges. Melbourne looking at 30 °C with lots of sunshine. Likely our first 30 of the season.

Moving down into Tasmania, and similar temperatures down there as well in the high 20s to 30 °C for much of the state. But notice these much cooler temperatures across the North Coast.

And that's because those northerly winds coming off the cold Bass Strait, so it's only low 20s in the north. But away from that you can see high 20s to 30 °C for the rest of the state with lots of sunshine. Hobart looking at 30 °C. A very warm one as well, with lots of sunshine.

Moving up into South Australia. And while you can see showers and thunderstorms throughout northern and western parts of the state with a trough system there, a high pressure ridge coming into the eastern and south-eastern parts is bringing dry, hot and sunny conditions to much of the rest of the state.

Temperatures in the low to mid 30s right across the state as well, and with warm overnight minimums, particularly throughout inland areas too. Adelaide looking at a warm and partly cloudy day, 31 °C.

Moving over into WA and in the south-east. Ahead of this trough system, you can see temperatures in the high 20s to low 30s, but behind this trough you can see we're experiencing south-westerly winds. And that's bringing much cooler conditions. As you can see here, with temperatures in the high teens to low 20s.

A bit more unusual for us for this time of year, and a few coastal showers also possible, particularly later in that day with that front approaching. Perth looking at 21 °C and a late shower, while hot, dry and sunny weather continues further north across the Pilbara. And then moving up into our tropical north in the NT.

You can see widespread showers and thunderstorms for inland areas in the morning. Then there's afternoon showers and thunderstorms will just erupt across these areas. As you can see here in all this blue through the Kimberley, Top End, Gulf Coast and many areas in between, bringing widespread shower and thunderstorm activity.

Temperatures in the mid to high 30s through much of the state, maybe even flirting with 40 as well through some of our northern NT areas and parts of the Kimberley as well. Showers and storms also likely to get up towards Darwin later in the day as well. 34 °C there.

So there's all this weather going on around the country. Make sure they get latest forecast and warnings for your area via our website, app and social media. And we'll be back here again tomorrow with your Friday forecast.