Hello from the Bureau of Meteorology. Today is the 26th of February, and that means there are two more days left in the summer months before we head into autumn. As we wrap up the summer, it's going to be a wet finish for many parts of the country, especially on Friday the 27th. We will see rain continuing through central Australia, where it has been raining all week, but rain will also spread around the coastlines, impacting several capitals in the east and south, as well as continuing in the far north. So, expect plenty of wet weather in the coming days.

In Queensland, the rain will be concentrated in a few areas, especially in the south-east, where persistent showers are expected around Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, up towards Bundaberg, and the Wide Bay. Showers will also affect Rockhampton in the Capricornia, with some rain around Mackay too. While heavy falls are unlikely, rainfall totals could range from 30mm to 50mm over the course of the day, with a few places seeing more. The far west of the state, which has been extremely wet this week, will continue to experience wet conditions, while the central and western parts of Queensland will see clearer, drier weather.

In New South Wales, there will also be frequent showers along the coastline, with persistent rain expected around the Sydney Basin, Illawarra, and Hunter. While the Mid North Coast will see less wet weather, the Northern Rivers could experience persistent showers. Temperatures will be on the cool side as the rain moves through. The far west of New South Wales will see clearer, sunnier conditions after recent wet spells, while Canberra will experience mild weather, with a high of 23°C and plenty of cloud cover.

In Victoria, Friday morning could start with rain in Melbourne, with the wet weather clearing up as the day goes on. However, Friday afternoon will bring widespread showers and thunderstorms across the state. It will be a tricky forecast, with some areas receiving 25mm to 30mm of rain, while nearby regions may stay dry. By Friday evening, the rain will be more confined to the far west of the state.

Tasmania will have a settled, calm day with pleasant weather. Despite a chilly morning, temperatures will rise to the mid-20s, with occasional cloud and plenty of sunshine.

South Australia will see more rain moving in from the north on Friday. Some rain will reach the south coast, particularly in the second half of the day, with showers expected across the Nullarbor, Eyre Peninsula, and central SA. Thunderstorms are possible around the Yorke Peninsula, Adelaide, the Mount Lofty Ranges, the Flinders Ranges, and the south-east. Even if you don't see much rainfall on Friday, wet conditions will likely spread across the region over the weekend.

Western Australia will remain dry and sunny, avoiding the rainfall seen in other states. Perth will reach around 36°C, and the rest of the state will experience temperatures between 35°C and 40°C, especially in the Gascoyne and Pilbara.

In the Northern Territory, more heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected across southern parts, with flooded rivers and roads likely to continue into the weekend. The northern parts of the NT, including the Kimberley, Broome, and northern parts of the desert, will see showers and thunderstorms. So, expect wet conditions throughout Australia's tropics.

With so much weather and rainfall in the coming days, it's important to stay informed through your local forecast, warnings, and perhaps even the rain radar on the Bureau website and the BOM Weather app. Thank you for watching!