‘Nasty’ storm to soak millions as heatwave breaks

A nasty storm is on the way for the east coast, as the heatwave gives way to heavy rain and even summer snow.

East coast Australians are in for some wild weather, with a heatwave and “nasty” storms that will give way to freezing temperatures and summer snow all within the next week.

A low intensity heatwave hit almost the entire NSW coast from Thursday, as well as Brisbane and parts of the southeast inland, and is expected to stick around in some coastal areas until midweek, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

More unmanageable than the heat, though, will be particularly humid conditions – with “nasty” storms brewing for the south east, according to Sky meteorologist Rob Sharpe.

This week’s heatwave won’t last long, and is expected soon to give way to heavy rain and even snow. Picture: Jeremy Piper

A huge storm will hit Sunday and Monday. Picture: Sky News

“The weather is pretty complex at the moment. There are some big changes brewing,” Mr Sharpe said.

“At the moment, it is hot and it’s humid across NSW … (In Sydney) temperatures are climbing to about 30 degrees each day, but it’s the humidity, the stickiness in the air that’s key.”

Humidity and “uncomfortable conditions” will continue in NSW into next week before moving across Queensland, Mr Sharpe said.

Sticky humidity means an incoming rain system will bring nasty storms. Picture: Simon Bullard / NCA NewsWire.

The humidity will give way to a patchy rain system that lingered over South Australia last week and, when it moves into NSW, will transform into heavy rain and thunderstorms.

“As we move into Monday, the storms will probably intensify further across NSW with this event … It’s going to really get those rains going with some pretty heavy falls and flash flooding a serious concern,” Mr Sharpe said.

Stormy conditions will dominate much of NSW through to Wednesday, before moving into Queensland with “severe thunderstorms right up and down that eastern coastline” into next weekend.

Alpine regions will even experience a smattering of summer snow. Picture: Facebook, Hotham Alpine Resort

Queensland was braced for a “long wet run”, Mr Sharpe said, with the next fortnight looking “wetter than usual” across the whole state.

Eight-day totals of more than 50mm are expected for more of the east coast, from far north Queensland to the Illawarra.

In a dramatic shift, a “strong cold change” is expected from Friday, with unseasonably cold temperatures of below 15 degrees across much of Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT.

In the alpine regions, temperatures are expected to drop below freezing – and may even result in a fall of summer snow.