Hello, Sarah from the Bureau here with your Severe Weather Update on the rain and storms forecast across large parts of eastern Australia, with severe thunderstorms possible across eastern parts of New South Wales and south-eastern parts of Queensland.

Thunderstorms are possible extending from the Kimberley and the Top End all the way over to eastern parts of Australia. Severe thunderstorms are possible anywhere within the yellow area, extending from southern parts of Queensland into eastern parts of New South Wales. Within this area, there’s potential for damaging winds with gusts in excess of 90 km/h, large hail with a diameter greater than two centimetres, and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding.

Severe thunderstorms are most likely within the red area, including the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, the Hunter, and adjacent ranges. It’s also worth noting that giant hail, with a diameter greater than five centimetres, is possible about the Mid North Coast.

A strong cold front and associated low-pressure system have moved across south-eastern parts of the country, bringing much cooler conditions to South Australia, western New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. This system has brought wet and wintry conditions, particularly to central and eastern parts of Victoria this morning. A southerly change is now racing up the New South Wales coast, bringing cloudy and unstable conditions both near and ahead of that front.

Possible impacts from these severe thunderstorms include damage to vehicles and property from large or giant hail, travel disruptions and hazardous driving conditions due to water on roads or strong crosswinds, and power outages from fallen powerlines.

Heading into tomorrow, it will be a much calmer day. Thunderstorms are still possible across north-east New South Wales and eastern parts of Queensland, but they are not expected to be severe.

For the remainder of today, a low-pressure system in the Tasman Sea is circulating humid air onshore into central and eastern Victoria, bringing moderate rainfall for the rest of the day. Given the already wet week across Victoria, the ground is saturated, increasing the risk of isolated minor flooding. Meanwhile, the cold front and gusty southerly change are continuing to move up the New South Wales coast, bringing showers and potentially severe storms.

On Sunday, a secondary trough will bring another burst of southerly winds to the southern New South Wales coast and enhance shower activity across eastern parts of Victoria, particularly during the first half of the day. By Sunday evening, showers and storms will begin to contract into the east coast of Queensland.

Between now and Monday evening, the heaviest rainfall is expected about central and eastern parts of Victoria, including the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, where totals of 20 to 40 mm are possible, with isolated higher totals in some areas. Localised thunderstorms may also bring rainfall of 15 to 30 mm underneath any storm cells that form.

With this wet and stormy day ahead, now’s a good time to keep an eye on the radar and stay up to date with forecasts and warnings via the Bureau website, app, and social media. As always, follow advice from your local emergency services.

Bye for now.