Weather News

Stormy days ahead for eastern Australia

Ben Domensino, Friday November 22, 2019 - 10:10 AEDT

Showers and thunderstorms will develop over parts of eastern Australia during the next several days, possibly affecting some of the fires in NSW.

A near-stationary low pressure trough interacting with moisture-laden air will cause showers and storms in parts of Queensland and NSW between Friday and Sunday.

While this weather pattern is typical for eastern Australia during late spring, storm-bearing troughs like this have been lacking in recent weeks.

A run of abnormally dry and warm weather in NSW and southern Queensland has caused widespread and prolonged bushfires this spring. As of 9am on Friday, there were 55 bush and grass fires burning across NSW, with 26 not yet contained.

Fortunately, some areas of eastern NSW with burning bushland should be affected by wet weather during the next few days.

On Friday, showers and thunderstorms will develop in a broad area from central NSW all the way up to northwest Queensland. Most of the wet weather in NSW will occur on and west of the ranges, although some showers could develop near or over the fires in the state's central and northern districts. While any rain will be welcome, there is also a risk that some storms could cause dry lightning and blustery winds, which may start new fires and make existing ones difficult to control.

Image: Forecast rainfall on Friday according to the ACCESS-R model.

The low pressure trough won't move much during the weekend, allowing showers and thunderstorms to continue developing over central and northern NSW and the southern and western inland of Queensland. Once again, some storms should bring bursts of welcome and localised rain during the weekend, while others could be more problematic for the fires.

Image: Forecast rainfall on Saturday according to the ACCESS-R model.

It's not possible to know exactly where and when the showers or thunderstorms will develop during the next three days, although they will become most active and widespread during the afternoon and early evening each day.

Image: Forecast rainfall on Sunday according to the ACCESS-R model.

There's also the potential for severe thunderstorms from this system, so be sure to keep up to date with the latest warnings during the coming days.

Looking ahead, further rain and storms could affect parts of eastern and southeastern Australia during the first half of next week with the passage of a low pressure trough and cold front.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2019

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A very wet weekend for southeast Qld, northeast NSW

11:48 AEST A prolonged rainfall event is set to bring large totals to parts of NSW and Qld from Saturday, with possible heavy falls and flooding. A low-pressure system in the Coral Sea, a deepening coastal trough and persistent easterlies will bring moisture-laden air into southeast Qld and northeast NSW will bring days of rainfall to the region. While there is not a drop of rain on the radar over southeast Qld and Northeast NSW on Friday morning, the mass of cloud associated with a low in the Coral Sea will enhance rainfall over the weekend.