Easter weather: Warnings of ‘rapid deterioration’ of conditions in Queensland, sunny in south and west

The weather could be grim on parts of the east coast with a risk of heavy rain and flooding. In the south, it’ll be mostly warm but a cold drop is imminent.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned there is likely to be a “rapid deterioration” of conditions along the Queensland coast and parts of the New South Wales this Easter weekend.

Heavy rainfall, damaging winds and possible flooding are all on the cards.

But head further south and the conditions are looking far toastier with a high pressure system over southern Australia.

However, even here there is likely to be a steep drop in the mercury as a cold front barrels through.

“A deepening low pressure trough and low will increase rainfall along the Capricorn and Fraser coasts this weekend, followed by rapid deterioration of conditions in the southeast from Sunday to Tuesday,” said Queensland Bureau of Meteorology metrologist Matt Marshall.

“The main impacts are expected along the coastal fringe and elevated terrain with daily rainfall totals of 50 to 150mm possible.”

Sky News Weather meteorologist Alison Osborne added that increasing rainfall on the Queensland coast could bring further flooding.

Easter could see rain across the east coast, Top End, NW Western Australia and south west WA. Picture: Sky News Weather.

Queensland and NSW Easter weather outlook

Substantial downpours were likely to be on the Easter menu for the east coast.

That could mean an average of about 50mm of rain along the Queensland coast and into northern NSW. But that could seesaw from 20mm in some areas to over 100mm in others.

For Brisbane, possible showers on Good Friday but it’s set to crank up over the weekend and into next week with as much as 30mm on Easter Monday, the same on Tuesday and then 15mm on Wednesday.

Heading south across the border and some of those sodden areas, fresh from the flooding, could get a top up of moisture particularly towards the end of the Easter weekend with up to 50mm falling.

Port Macquarie should expect up to 10mm on Monday and a further 10-25mm on Tuesday and more as the week progresses.

Mostly sunny in Sydney this week with temperatures in the mid twenties. Rain is a possibility from Easter Monday, potentially heavy on Tuesday.

Heavy rain could hit Queensland and the north of NSW. Picture: Sky News Weather

Easter weather around the other capitals

If you’re in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania or much of Western Australia, sunshine and pleasant weather will be the hallmark of the long weekend. But a steep drop in temperature is expected between Saturday and Sunday with the mercury falling by 10C over much of the south.

Canberra should be sunny with maximums heading into the high twenties.

Warming up in Melbourne with a top of 30C on Easter Saturday before plummeting to 22C on Sunday and 19C on Monday.

Dry in Hobart with a high of 23C on a cloudy Friday, 28C on Saturday and then, like Melbourne, the mercury will sink by as much as 10C on Sunday.

Blue skies and a few clouds in Adelaide; temperatures will settle in the early thirties this week, peaking at 33C on Good Friday and then sliding back into the mid twenties from Sunday.

It will be calm and hot in Perth with a high of 34C on Saturday and 35C on Easter Sunday.

Originally published as Easter weather: Warnings of ‘rapid deterioration’ of conditions in Queensland, sunny in south and west