Chance of tropical cyclones in Queensland as NSW lashed by severe thunderstorms

Aussies have been warned to brace for potential tropical cyclones as much of the country is lashed by heavy rainfall.

Aussies have been warned to brace for potential tropical cyclones as parts of the country are lashed by heavy rain, with multiple severe weather warnings in place.

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of NSW, with the potential for damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall on Tuesday.

But Queenslanders could also bear the brunt of a possible tropical cyclone later this week - with the weather bureau monitoring lows off the east coast.

The Bureau of Meteorology are monitoring tropical lows off The Gulf Coast, the Cairns Coast and the Coral Sea. Picture: BOM

The NSW warning was issued for those in the Metropolitan area and parts of the Mid North Coast, Hunter and Central Tablelands Forecast Districts of NSW.

“Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours,” the Bureau of Meteorology alert stated.

“Locations which may be affected include Gosford, Sydney, Penrith, Parramatta, Woy Woy and Kulnura.”

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe thunderstorm warnings across NSW over Tuesday. Picture: BOM

Storms first rolled into Sydney on Monday evening. Picture: Clareese Packer/NewsWire.

Those in the Blue Mountains/Hawkesbury, Gosford/Wyong, Sydney, Maitland/Cessnock and Greater Wollongong areas were also warned of damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall on Tuesday.

“The Bureau of Meteorology warns that, at 5:15pm, severe thunderstorms likely to produce damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding were detected near Calga, Liverpool, the Royal National Park, Maroota and Londonderry,” the alert stated.

“These thunderstorms are moving towards the east to northeast. They are forecast to affect Sydney Airport, Gosford and Wyong by 5:45pm and Woy Woy, Toukley and Terrigal by 6:15pm.”

Storms rolling across Sydney on Monday evening. Picture: Facebook

Chance of tropical cyclones in Queensland

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Sarah Scully said in the 24 hours til 9am Tuesday, multiple parts of Queensland recorded 200mm of rain, as well as a further 50mm since 9am.

Six hourly rainfalls of 130-180mm are possible as a severe weather warning for heavy rain was issued just south of Cairns to Rollingstone including Ingham and Tully, with 24 hour rainfall totals of 300m also possible.

The warning was issued for people in parts of the North Tropical Coast and Tablelands, Hervert and Lower Burdekin Forecast Districts on Tuesday.

“Impacts could include hazardous driving conditions with flooded roads and detours, stress on power and infrastructure, and even damage to crops, garden and property,” Ms Scully said.

“As we move through to Thursday and towards the weekend, we can see this low pressure system lingering off the coast and an increase in shower and storm activity across the tropical north.”

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Jonathon How said it was looking to be an “quite an active period” of weather across Northern Queensland and much of northern Australia, with the chance of tropical cyclones in Queensland.

“We’re monitoring the potential for tropical lows across the north of the country which may form into tropical cyclones,” Mr How said.

Queensland is in for ‘very heavy rain’ over the next week or so. Picture: Stormcast.

While none of the lows have yet formed, Mr How warned there was “at least a 25 per cent chance of (the tropical lows) forming into a cyclone towards the end of this week”.

The Bureau of Meteorology are monitoring tropical lows off The Gulf Coast, the Cairns Coast and the Coral Sea.

“We definitely do say regardless of whether we see a cyclone form it will be a very rainy period over Queensland for next week or so,” he said.

There’s also the potential for a monsoon across the state.

“A monsoon normally brings widespread cloud cover, lots of rain, cooler temperatures and a lot of people are hanging out for that,” Mr How said.

“(There will be) quite rainy conditions regardless of whether we see cyclones.”

Originally published as Chance of tropical cyclones in Queensland as NSW lashed by severe thunderstorms