Australia election day weather: ‘Unrelenting’ showers and cold snap to hit

With Australians set to head to the polls tomorrow, the BOM is urging millions to bring their wet weather gear to the booth.

Residents on the east coast should brace for an election day soaking, meteorologists have warned, with the weather set to punish voters who haven’t pre-polled.

Queensland, the state tipped to swing the election result potentially, will bear the brunt of the foul weekend weather, with Brisbane alone set to cop between 25 and 35 millimetres of rain on Saturday.

There are concerns that another weekend of rainfall could cause further flooding in the state’s southeast, after residents last week experienced their fourth flood event since November.

But Sky Weather meteorologist Alison Osborne noted on Friday’s Weather to Watch bulletin the heaviest of the coming falls would likely occur in less saturated coastal areas.

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Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Swift Water Rescue check on a car in floodwaters last week. Picture: Richard Walker

“Despite (rain) falling over sodden river catchments … only minor and maybe a few localised areas of moderate flooding are a risk, from Mackay right the way down to the upper Brisbane river,” Ms Osborne said.

The meteorologist had a more upsetting forecast for NSW, warning showers would be “unrelenting” across the state until next Wednesday, with Sydney expected to receive anywhere from eight to 20 millimetres of rain while voters line up at polling stations on Saturday.

Melbourne, Hobart and Adelaide have avoided the worst of the weekend weather and can expect relatively dry conditions, albeit with chilly temperatures making the appeal of a hot democracy sausage all the more enticing.

Perth is the pick of the capitals weatherwise, with a lovely 24 degree sunny Saturday expected – before the state promptly cops a battering of storms on Sunday, set to last deep into next week.

Voters in both NSW and Queensland should prepare for unwelcome rain on election day this year. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Given Australia’s compulsory voting laws make it illegal to skip out on voting, it’s unlikely that the grim forecast for the eastern states will affect poll turnouts.

However, the Bureau of Meteorology‘s Brooke Pagel said the risk of flash flooding and heavy rainfall in parts of Queensland – notably around the areas of Rockhampton and especially Caboolture, which falls in the marginal seat of Longman (currently held by the Coalition on a 3.3 per cent margin) – could see some people forego their democratic right.

“People have been concerned about the weather, and Covid-19 is still an issue as well,” Ms Pagel said.

“However, we know that people can now vote over the phone if they have the virus, and there will also be some breaks in the weather which should afford voters the time to get to a polling station.”

Ms Pagel recommended people check traffic updates before leaving the house, with warnings of road disruptions in place in the state‘s southeast due to the weather.

“The Queensland traffic website is a really handy tool you can use,” she said, adding checking the BOM radar before leaving the house was “strongly recommended”.