100mm+ downpours, risk of flash flooding for millions as severe weather pelts NSW, southeast Qld
Severe thunderstorms which could dump as much as 100mm on millions of Aussies – along with damaging wind gusts and hail – have been forecast over the coming days.
Severe thunderstorms which could dump as much as 100mm are forecast to lash multiple states over the coming days – with warnings such downpours could lead to flooding.
Much of eastern and northern NSW – including the Blue Mountains, upper Hunter and into parts of the Northern Tablelands forecast districts – as well as parts of southeast Queensland are set to be hit by the downpours.
In their afternoon update on Wednesday the Bureau of Meteorology identified a risk of large and heavy rainfall, leading to possible flash flooding.
Rainfall is expected to be 20-50mm, with some areas reaching 100mm.
The showers are expected to clear and move offshore by Friday in NSW.
In southeast Queensland, Thursday’s forecast is set to start off sunny with a chance of a thunderstorm, particularly in Darling Downs.
Multiple heatwave warnings are also in place for parts of Western Australia, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland until Friday as the mercury climbs upward of 45C in WA’s Pilbara region.
Temperatures in Sydney climbed to 30C on Tuesday and up to 39C in Penrith.
“We’re not expecting to see the widespread extreme fire danger that we saw at the weekend,” Ms Johnson said in the bureau’s update.
“The winds are not as strong as they were on Saturday, but we are still looking at high fire danger through much of the state.”
The trough could linger over parts of NSW until Thursday, meaning the threat of damaging wind gusts and large hail will remain with residents until the end of the week.
The first week of summer has brought a 50C temperature range across the country, while Tuesday’s heat in NSW saw temperatures hit 4-10 degrees above the December average.
Extreme heatwave temperatures are also on the way for South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and inland NSW.
Thursday will bring the highest temperatures for those states, where temperatures could reach the low to mid forties.
The hardest hit areas will be the Pastoral regions in South Australia’s north west and Western Australia’s Southern Interior.
On Tuesday evening, multiple fire alerts remained in place across NSW – including a warning for the village of Bogee, north of Lithgow.
“Firefighters remain on scene undertaking property protection where required,” a warning from the NSW Rural Fire Service states.
“If you are between Marsden Rd and Capertree River on Home Hills Rd and Marsden Rd, follow the advice of emergency services personnel on scene.
“The fire is burning quickly and may impact on properties between Marsden Rd and Capertree River on Home Hills Rd and Marsden Rd.”
Last weekend, fires ripped through at least 20 homes.
Firefighters were called to battle an enormous blaze which burned through the Koolewong, Phegans Bay and Woy Woy Bay areas, destroying more than 129 hectares of land.
One veteran firefighter – since identified as John Lohan – died on a property at Nerong after being crushed by a tree about 10:45pm on Sunday.
Heat persists across northern and inland parts of #Australia, as well as across #SA, much of #Qld, and inland #NSW. Cool to mild weather is expected for the south-east states for much of the week ahead.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) December 9, 2025
Latest: https://t.co/4W35o8i7wJpic.twitter.com/9M4RV5VZ4h
Temperatures are forecast to drop to below 25C over Wednesday and Thursday.
But Sky News Weather meteorologist Tamsin Green said some conditions for the country’s interior were set to get more severe.
“We can see the real focus really is across the interior by the end of the week,” she said, pointing to a forecast model which indicated temperatures in excess of 45 degrees were likely for some central areas on Friday,” Ms Green said.
“So that focus really is across the centre, also portions of the west as well, rather than the east towards the end of the week.”
Heatwave warnings remain in place for multiple states over Wednesday, continuing into Friday.
In WA, a severe heatwave warning is in place for the Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne, North Interior and South Interior forecast districts.
“Maximum temperatures ranging from the high thirties to the mid forties and overnight minimum temperatures in the mid to high twenties,” the bureau’s warning states. “Severe heatwave conditions are expected to contract slowly southward and ease over the next few days. Locations likely to be impacted include Fitzroy Crossing, Karratha, Newman, Paraburdoo and Warburton.”
Maximum temperatures are forecast to peak at 46C in the iron ore mining town of Pannawonica on Wednesday.
A similar warning exists for the Gulf Country in Queensland – with forecasts of maximum temperatures in the high thirties to low forties, with overnight minimum temperatures in the mid to high twenties.
Originally published as 100mm+ downpours, risk of flash flooding for millions as severe weather pelts NSW, southeast Qld
