Heavy rain and severe thunderstorms are impacting central Australia today and tomorrow, moving into much of South Australia and western parts of Victoria into the weekend and early next week.
Looking at that in more detail, Severe Weather Warnings are current for a large part of central Australia, including south-west Queensland, south-east Northern Territory and much of northern and north-eastern South Australia.
If you live in this highlighted yellow area, or know someone who does, forecast rainfall today and tonight could see 30 mm to 50 mm, and even up to 80 mm in six hours, with isolated totals in excess of 100 mm.
In Birdsville in the last 24 hours, we have seen falls of more than 100 mm, and the average annual rainfall there is around 180 mm. So we are seeing widespread flash and riverine flooding through these areas, and that is likely to continue moving west and south in the coming days.
A big driver of that will be thunderstorms.
Looking at thunderstorm activity tomorrow, severe thunderstorms are possible from around the Melbourne area extending through much of central and western Victoria into Adelaide. Severe thunderstorms are also likely through much of northern, central and western parts of South Australia, particularly north and west of Port Augusta.
In the red highlighted area, severe thunderstorms are likely, with heavy rainfall the main threat leading to flash and riverine flooding. In the yellow highlighted areas, severe thunderstorms are possible, and some of those storms could bring flash flooding with heavy rainfall.
As we move into Saturday, you will see that the threat areas change very little, as we see round after round of rain and thunderstorms affecting the same areas. The threat extends from east of Alice Springs through much of inland South Australia and into the Eyre Peninsula, with severe thunderstorms possible around the Adelaide area and down into south-western Victoria.
Again, the main threat with these storms will be heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding, which could also lead to road closures and possible inundation of homes and properties, depending on exactly where those thunderstorms form.
Looking at the broader picture, today the main threat area is around the Northern Territory and Queensland border and into northern parts of South Australia.
Overnight tonight into tomorrow, that moisture will move west and south across South Australia and into parts of Victoria as well. By tomorrow afternoon, we are likely to see a band of rain and storms from northern South Australia through southern and eastern areas, and into western parts of Victoria.
Through Friday night into Saturday, rain and thunderstorm activity will continue across much of South Australia, particularly southern areas, reaching the Adelaide area by Saturday afternoon and evening. It is likely to become more persistent with heavy rainfall as we move through Saturday night into Sunday morning across much of central and eastern South Australia, and then into western parts of Victoria as we move into Sunday night and Monday.
Three days of widespread rain and storms means we are likely to see widespread rainfall totals of 50 mm to 100 mm across much of northern inland and southern South Australia, and even into western parts of New South Wales and Victoria. We could see isolated higher totals, particularly around the Northern Territory and Queensland border, and with any slow-moving thunderstorms across inland South Australia.
While the first 20 mm to 40 mm may be welcome in southern parts of South Australia, once totals reach 50 mm to 100 mm, especially if that rain falls in just a few hours, flash flooding becomes a major concern, particularly across southern South Australia.
With the rainfall we have already seen this week, and more to come in southern parts of the country, there are widespread Flood Watches and Flood Warnings current across much of the country.
Queensland currently has major flooding through parts of the Georgina River and the Flinders River, with minor and moderate flooding through many inland rivers, creeks and streams.
In the Northern Territory and South Australia, Flood Watches are current across many areas. If you live in these highlighted regions, forecast rainfall in the coming days means we are likely to see flash and riverine flooding over the weekend and into early next week.
With this widespread heavy rainfall, there will be numerous impacts. Flash flooding will be the main concern and could lead to road closures and possible inundation of homes, properties and businesses. It will also create dangerous driving and travel conditions across much of inland South Australia and western Victoria, particularly in the Sunday and Monday timeframe.
As mentioned earlier, while initial rainfall of 20 mm to 50 mm may be beneficial for parts of the agriculture sector, once totals reach 50 mm to 100 mm, we can see topsoil washed away and significant flash flooding issues develop.
There is a lot of weather likely to affect much of south-eastern Australia, particularly South Australia and Victoria, in the coming days.
Make sure you stay up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings via our website and app, and listen to any advice from emergency services.
We will continue to keep you updated here at the Bureau.
Looking at that in more detail, Severe Weather Warnings are current for a large part of central Australia, including south-west Queensland, south-east Northern Territory and much of northern and north-eastern South Australia.
If you live in this highlighted yellow area, or know someone who does, forecast rainfall today and tonight could see 30 mm to 50 mm, and even up to 80 mm in six hours, with isolated totals in excess of 100 mm.
In Birdsville in the last 24 hours, we have seen falls of more than 100 mm, and the average annual rainfall there is around 180 mm. So we are seeing widespread flash and riverine flooding through these areas, and that is likely to continue moving west and south in the coming days.
A big driver of that will be thunderstorms.
Looking at thunderstorm activity tomorrow, severe thunderstorms are possible from around the Melbourne area extending through much of central and western Victoria into Adelaide. Severe thunderstorms are also likely through much of northern, central and western parts of South Australia, particularly north and west of Port Augusta.
In the red highlighted area, severe thunderstorms are likely, with heavy rainfall the main threat leading to flash and riverine flooding. In the yellow highlighted areas, severe thunderstorms are possible, and some of those storms could bring flash flooding with heavy rainfall.
As we move into Saturday, you will see that the threat areas change very little, as we see round after round of rain and thunderstorms affecting the same areas. The threat extends from east of Alice Springs through much of inland South Australia and into the Eyre Peninsula, with severe thunderstorms possible around the Adelaide area and down into south-western Victoria.
Again, the main threat with these storms will be heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding, which could also lead to road closures and possible inundation of homes and properties, depending on exactly where those thunderstorms form.
Looking at the broader picture, today the main threat area is around the Northern Territory and Queensland border and into northern parts of South Australia.
Overnight tonight into tomorrow, that moisture will move west and south across South Australia and into parts of Victoria as well. By tomorrow afternoon, we are likely to see a band of rain and storms from northern South Australia through southern and eastern areas, and into western parts of Victoria.
Through Friday night into Saturday, rain and thunderstorm activity will continue across much of South Australia, particularly southern areas, reaching the Adelaide area by Saturday afternoon and evening. It is likely to become more persistent with heavy rainfall as we move through Saturday night into Sunday morning across much of central and eastern South Australia, and then into western parts of Victoria as we move into Sunday night and Monday.
Three days of widespread rain and storms means we are likely to see widespread rainfall totals of 50 mm to 100 mm across much of northern inland and southern South Australia, and even into western parts of New South Wales and Victoria. We could see isolated higher totals, particularly around the Northern Territory and Queensland border, and with any slow-moving thunderstorms across inland South Australia.
While the first 20 mm to 40 mm may be welcome in southern parts of South Australia, once totals reach 50 mm to 100 mm, especially if that rain falls in just a few hours, flash flooding becomes a major concern, particularly across southern South Australia.
With the rainfall we have already seen this week, and more to come in southern parts of the country, there are widespread Flood Watches and Flood Warnings current across much of the country.
Queensland currently has major flooding through parts of the Georgina River and the Flinders River, with minor and moderate flooding through many inland rivers, creeks and streams.
In the Northern Territory and South Australia, Flood Watches are current across many areas. If you live in these highlighted regions, forecast rainfall in the coming days means we are likely to see flash and riverine flooding over the weekend and into early next week.
With this widespread heavy rainfall, there will be numerous impacts. Flash flooding will be the main concern and could lead to road closures and possible inundation of homes, properties and businesses. It will also create dangerous driving and travel conditions across much of inland South Australia and western Victoria, particularly in the Sunday and Monday timeframe.
As mentioned earlier, while initial rainfall of 20 mm to 50 mm may be beneficial for parts of the agriculture sector, once totals reach 50 mm to 100 mm, we can see topsoil washed away and significant flash flooding issues develop.
There is a lot of weather likely to affect much of south-eastern Australia, particularly South Australia and Victoria, in the coming days.
Make sure you stay up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings via our website and app, and listen to any advice from emergency services.
We will continue to keep you updated here at the Bureau.
Severe weather update: Heavy rain and thunderstorms for SA
26 February 2026
Video current: 2:00 pm AEDT Thursday 26/02/26.