‘2000 kilometres’: Extensive rain band sweeps across Australia bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds

Australia is currently experiencing a significant weather event, with a troubling system stretching over 2000 kilometres across the country.

Up to 90 per cent of Australia could be impacted as a vast rain band stretches over 2000 kilometres across the country.

The large system bringing wet weather currently spans from the Kimberley in Western Australia to Western Victoria.

Severe weather warnings associated with the system have been issued for WA, NSW and the ACT, Victoria, and Tasmania.

Senior meteorologist Sarah Scully of the Bureau of Meteorology provided insights into the weather system on Thursday morning, detailing what to expect over the coming days.

A massive rain band stretching over 2000 kilometres is affecting Australia, bringing severe weather warnings for several regions. Picture: WeatherZone

“There’s been an extensive cloud or rain band that stretches all the way from the Kimberley in WA through Central Australia, towards Western Victoria at the moment,” Ms Scully said.

“It’s stretching over 2000 kilometres over the land. Generally overnight, there’s been five to 15mm within the passage of that rain band.

“But the heaviest rainfall totals have been about the Kimberley with 71mm at Lombadina since 9am yesterday, but it is pushing into Adelaide.”

The rain band, dragged eastwards by a cold front, is expected to sweep across the country on Thursday,

“The rain band is being dragged eastwards by a cold front that’s pushing across the country,” Ms Scully said.

The rain band is moving eastwards, with varying rainfall totals expected across different areas, along with gusty winds. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar

As the system progresses, residents in these regions should prepare for varying rainfall totals, the BOM warns.

“Broadly speaking, we’re expecting around five to 15mm, increasing to 20 to 30mm throughout central parts of Victoria and southern parts of New South Wales today,” Scully noted. “And then of course, those heavier rainfall totals where the severe weather warning is current throughout Northeastern Victoria.”

The severe weather warning for northeastern Victoria is particularly concerning, with heavy rainfall and potential flash flooding expected.

“It’s not just rain that’s been associated with this feature. It’s also brought some really gusty winds, particularly to southeastern parts of the country,” Ms Scully said.

“There is currently a strong wind warning for elevated parts of Victoria and also about the Otways and Far Eastern Tasmania, where they’ve already observed wind gusts in excess of 100 kilometres per hour.

The rain band is moving eastwards, with varying rainfall totals expected across different areas, along with gusty winds. Picture: WeatherZone

“There’s also a severe weather warning for heavy rainfall for northeastern parts of Victoria.”

The rainfall is expected to intensify late Thursday night and continue into Friday morning.

“We’re looking at our six hourly rainfall totals of 50 to 70mm, so those rainfall rates are enough to lead to potentially some flash flooding,” Ms Scully warned.

“It’s important for the community, particularly our residents throughout Victoria, elevated areas of Victoria, and also down towards the Otways and parts of Tasmania, where we do have those severe weather warnings out, to stay up to date with the latest Bureau forecasts and warnings.”

On Wednesday, Sky News Weather Meteorologist Rob Sharpe declared “close to 90 per cent of Australia will see wet weather this week.”

City-specific forecasts indicate the impact of the weather system, with varying amounts of rain expected in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and Hobart. Picture: Sky News

“On the weekend it may intensify for the New South Wales coast with some heavy falls.”

City-specific forecasts reflect the impact of the weather system across Australia over the next few days into the weekend.

Melbourne is expected to receive around 15mm of rain on Thursday, with conditions easing into the weekend.

Sydney faces a wet and windy weekend, with up to 25mm forecast for Saturday and 50mm on Sunday.

Brisbane can expect up to 20mm on Saturday and 9mm on Sunday. Perth will experience stormy weather, with the heaviest rainfall of 45mm expected on Sunday.

Adelaide is forecast to see 10mm of rain and high north-westerly winds on both Thursday and Friday, with conditions easing by Saturday.

Hobart will enjoy a mostly dry, partly cloudy weekend before another 20mm of rain returns on Monday.

Darwin, in contrast, will experience mostly sunny weather with temperatures in the low to mid-30s over the forecast period to Wednesday next week.

Originally published as ‘2000 kilometres’: Extensive rain band sweeps across Australia bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds