Australia weather forecast: Thunderstorms expected before October long weekend

Several states will be hit with thunderstorms over the next few days — but don’t cancel your October long weekend plans yet.

Thunder and lightning are expected to hit several states before the October long weekend arrives with sunshine and record heat.

Rain clouds with embedded thunderstorms have been hanging over the WA-SA border region and the storm system is expected to move east and dump rain over southern Queensland, NSW, Victoria and the ACT on Wednesday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

But as the weekend approaches those wet days will give way to sunshine and heat for the entire eastern half of Australia.

“We’ll see temperatures of 16 degrees above average, with a maximum in the mid-thirties, in some areas by the weekend,” BOM meteorologist Diana Eadie said.

Those temperatures will be the hottest since the last warm season ended in March.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Tuesday looks likely to be the wettest day of the week, with showers and possible storms across the state. Those conditions will clear by Thursday and give way to sunshine on Friday, with temperatures of up to 29 degrees in Adelaide on Friday, according to the forecast.

VICTORIA

Wednesday will be the weeks wettest day, but the rainfall will ease by Thursday and warmer conditions will continue to build through parts of the state, according to the forecast. Melbourne will see tops of about 20 degrees over the next few days, with an increase towards 26 degrees celsius on Friday.

Beachgoers leaving Noosa Main Beach after it was closed due to severe thunderstorm warnings earlier this year. Photo Lachie Millard

NEW SOUTH WALES

Showers are likely on Wednesday, and that storm activity will continue in the state’s eastern parts on Thursday as well. By Friday the clouds should have cleared and the air should feel warmer. Expect sunny conditions with a peak of 27 degrees in Sydney on Friday.

QUEENSLAND

Showers will increase over the inland areas of the state’s southern parts on Wednesday. Queensland’s population centres will feel the brunt of the rain on Thursday, but things look likely to ease up by Friday. That day Brisbane will see sunny conditions and a peak of 29 degrees.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

The territory’s southern parts could see showers on Tuesday, but those storms are expected to mainly affect the western top end as the week goes on. Generally, the Northern Territory can expect fairly warm conditions through the week, with 25 degrees and sunshine forecast for Friday.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

While the country’s eastern parts will see wet weekdays give way to a warm and sunny weekend, Western Australia will in many ways experience the opposite. Showers are to be expected over the west coast throughout the week, while storms will build across the northern parts. Temperatures look likely to increase by midweek, before a Friday cold change that continues through the weekend. Perth is forecast to have a peak of 22 degrees on Thursday with temperatures gradually dropping after that.

TASMANIA

Tasmania’s temperatures are expected to remain steady through the week, with rainfall on Wednesday that continues into the next day. Hobart will see a top of 22 degrees on Friday.