Australia weather: City soaked by ‘wettest day in 18 years’

More than a million Aussies have been drenched by the wettest November day in nearly 20 years as storms continue to rage.

Wild overnight conditions in the hours to Tuesday morning meant parts of Adelaide clocked rainfall totals that broke decades-old storm records.

By 9am local time on Tuesday, 33.6mm had been recorded in the city and 35.8mm at Adelaide Airport, according to Weatherzone.

It made for the airport’s wettest day in more than four years and its wettest November day in 59 years.

For Adelaide city, it was the wettest November day in 18 years. An isolated fall of 46mm at Noarlunga, in Adelaide’s southern suburbs, also broke a 12-year rainfall record.

GALLERY: Lightning, thunder and heavy rain smashed Adelaide on Tuesday and a fierce spring storm crossed SA. See more pics here: https://t.co/pB7bOPHGds 📸

Credit: _s_h_b_photography, Murray River Pix, Patrick Wynne, Lachy Riley pic.twitter.com/ax5QXyp8zw

— The Advertiser (@theTiser) November 27, 2023

The system blew into Adelaide from the northeast on Monday as part of a system of storms that’s predicted to consume most of Australia in the coming week.

A significant upper low level pressure system has brought moisture to Australia’s eastern half, with considerable rainfall expected over the next seven days.

A map from Weatherzone shows almost the entire country will be impacted, save two small dry patches.

Accumulated rainfall totals of “well over” 100mm are expected in eastern parts of Queensland, NSW, Victoria and possibly Tasmania in the week to Sunday.

Rainfall totals of more than 100mm are expected in the purple areas. Picture: Weatherzone.

Residents in Queensland, Victoria and NSW were warned by the Bureau of Meteorology to brace for severe storms continuing into Wednesday.

Meteorologist Jonathan How said a severe weather warning had been put in place for the NSW south coast, including townships south of Nowra, with potential for “destructive winds, giant hail and flooding”.

“We are expecting widespread rain and storms in coming days all the way from southern Queensland and into southern Victoria,” Mr How said on Tuesday.

“Rainfall will pick up from early Wednesday morning and there is a potential for six-hourly totals of 150mm, leading to flash flooding and damaging winds in excess of 90km/h, mostly along the coastal fringe south of Moruya Heads.”

Thunderstorms are possible in large parts of Australia. Picture: BOM.

A number of flood watches had been put in place in NSW, including the Illawarra coast and Tumut river, extending south into northeast Victoria.

An initial flood watch was put in place for parts of Gippsland, the Ottways, northeast, and southwest Victoria, amid forecasts of up to 100mm of rain.

Across Victoria, river levels were expected to rise on Wednesday with the potential for major flooding, including the Peel River in Melbourne.

Major flooding is also possible for the Moonie River in Queensland.