Wettest year in 60 years, Sydney close to breaking record

Heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected to hammer Australia’s east coast as an almost 60-year weather record is smashed.

Wild weather is expected to hammer Australia’s east coast with heavy rain and thunderstorms on the way.

Large parts of eastern Northern Territory, southwest Queensland, western and southern NSW, northern Victoria, and northern Tasmania look likely to see between 15 and 40mm of rain on Monday.

The warning comes as NSW looks to break the record for the most rainfall in 60 years.

Sydney will again be drenched in rain this coming week, as the La Nina system brings wet and wild weather. Picture: Gaye Gerard / NCA Newswire

Sydney copped more than two metres of rain in eight months for the first time in almost 60 years.

An added 200mm will see it be the wettest period on record for the region.

With the added rainfall forecast to come this week, Sydney will have experienced its wettest year since 1963, and the most rain this early in the year since records began in the 1800s.

In 1950, the Sydney’s highest rainfall was recorded at 2,194mm for the year.

As a third La Nina event threatens to hit with heavy rain and thunder, Australia’s eastern states have been warned to prepare for a miserable week.

According to BOM, Monday is set to be a wet day across the country, as large parts of western and southern NSW, northern Victoria and southwest Queensland will likely see heavy rain.

Sydney has been warned to brace for more wet weather, as the La Nina system brings heavy rains. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology

Daily telegraph July 14/22. Light rain continues to fall in Sydney cbd as showers clip the coast. Picture John Grainger

The country has already experienced a blanketing of snow this winter, with parts of regional NSW, Victoria and South Australia seeing below zero temperatures at night.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned of a wet summer earlier this month, giving a 70 per cent chance of a La Nina weather event.

In a La Nina year, the average rainfall between December and March is 20 per cent higher than regular years.

Since 1900, Australia has experienced 19 La Nina weather events, with 12 causing flooding in eastern states.