Damage warning as storms arrive to ‘hammer’ the east coast

Victoria and the rest of the eastern seaboard is likely to be lashed by rain and thunder this week, with experts warning to prepare for severe storm damage.

Victoria is being warned to brace for wild weather this week. Picture: David Geraghty

Heavy rain and ferocious wind could cause severe damage with east coast residents warned to batten down the hatches because the first major storm of the season looks to be en route.

Forecasters on Monday said significant rain and thunderstorm events could ‘hammer’ the eastern seaboard this week as a low pressure system moves east across the Great Australian Bight.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Miriam Bradbury said the heavy weather was most likely to start on Wednesday, as the system draws moisture from the tropics and starts a ‘multistate event’.

Last week it was revealed that rainfall from October to December is likely to be above average across much of the country. Picture: David Crosling

This weather could build into Thursday and Friday, with large parts of Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and even eastern Tasmania in the firing line.

“There is the potential for some pretty significant storms,” Ms Bradbury said.

“When I say significant - they have the potential to turn severe - damaging wind gusts, large hail, heavy rain which can lead to flash flooding.”

For Queensland, the rain is set to end a dry patch that has extended from winter into spring.

The Bureau is tipping up to 15mm to fall in Brisbane on Thursday and another 30mm on Friday, which is more than the region has had in almost three months.

Another cold start to a nice settled day. Change is in the wind though! A complex low over the Bight approaches #Victoria on Tuesday before slowly moving southeast over the state on Wednesday and Thursday bringing thunderstorms and widespread showers. https://t.co/WsvGzfQq2jpic.twitter.com/quZyCqot4T

— Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) September 26, 2021

Last week it was revealed that the rainfall from October to December is likely to be above average across much of the country, with the run-in to Christmas a bit soggier than usual for the far south coast of Western Australia, the NT, South Australia, Queensland, NSW, Victoria and eastern Tasmania.

Much of southeast mainland extending up to southern Queensland and into Central Australia shows a greater than 80 per cent chance of above median rainfall.

In Melbourne, rain will develop from Tuesday night with thunderstorms and heavy falls predicted on Wednesday (15-25mm of rain) and Thursday (5-10mm).

There is a 90 per cent chance of rain on Friday with conditions improving slightly on the weekend, although staying wet.

Originally published as Damage warning as storms arrive to ‘hammer’ the east coast