Millions in firing line for severe thunderstorms, rain, suffocating heatwave
It’s a mixed bag for Aussies this weekend as a suffocating heatwave, wild winds and thunderstorms smash the east coast, while icy conditions settle over the south.
Following days of brutal and dangerous storms, residents in much of NSW and Queensland are set for another battering of wild winds, thunderstorms and suffocating heatwaves this weekend.
The destructive and deadly storms ripped through parts of Queensland and NSW this week, tearing buildings apart and leaving thousands of Aussies without power.
The Bureau of Meteorology warned the worst of the thunderstorms are yet to pass, with more severe conditions forecast this weekend.
“Queensland likely to see thunderstorms and severe thunderstorms return to much of (the) eastern and southeastern regions,” senior meteorologist Dean Narramore told NewsWire.
On Sunday, the rain and storms are forecast to contract to northern Queensland.
While thunderstorms tear parts of the state apart, a severe and suffocating heatwave will settle over the east coast.
Residents in the Brisbane Metropolitan Area, Bundaberg, Biloela, Gladstone, Gympie, Ipswich, Ingham, Longreach, Mackay and Maroochydore have been warned of severe heatwave conditions over the weekend, before cooling once again next week.
Further south, thunderstorms and lashings of rain are also forecast to smash parts of NSW, focusing its attention on the state’s northeast.
A cold front is forecast to sweep across elevated parts of NSW on Saturday, bringing plenty of wet weather and strong, damaging winds to thousands of residents across the state.
“In NSW, we’re gonna see rain and isolated thunder or showers and isolated thunderstorms,” Mr Narramore said.
“(It’s) also gonna be pretty windy as well, so we’re gonna see strong and gusty winds across NSW.”
A severe weather warning has been issued for Bowral, Katoomba, Nowendoc, Murrurundi, Walcha and Lithgow, with average wind speeds between 50k/h to 60kmh and damaging gusts in excess of 90km/h in the morning.
“Winds are expected to ease below warning thresholds by early Saturday evening,” the bureau website says.
Thankfully the wet conditions are expected to pass on Sunday, leaving behind clear and sunny skies.
While the elevated regions of NSW endure severe thunderstorms, it will be hot and windy for residents in Sydney and the Hunter regions.
Severe heatwave conditions have passed over the Northern Tablelands and are settling at the Mid North Coast, which has been issued an extreme heatwave warning.
A severe heatwave waning is in place for the Northern Rivers, also impacting Sydney and the Hunter districts on Saturday.
“Then we’re gonna see even more hot and windy conditions there on Sunday, with widespread high to extreme fire dangers for much of NSW,” Mr Narramore said.
It’s a mixed bag for the rest of the country this weekend with mild conditions forecast for Western Australia.
“We could see showers and storms across northern parts of Western Australia on both Saturday and Sunday,” Mr Narramore said.
Temperatures will be cool in South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania as a couple of cold front pass over the southern half of the country, bringing isolated showers and strong winds.
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for the Eyre Peninsula, with residents warned of damaging winds and heavy rain, which may result in flash flooding.
Areas impacted include Whyalla, Ceduna, Port Augusta, Port Pirie, Clare and Wudinna.
Alpine snow could even be possible for parts of Tasmania and Victoria on Sunday.
“It’s going to feel more like winter in Victoria on Monday,” Mr Narramore said.
Originally published as Millions in firing line for severe thunderstorms, rain, suffocating heatwave
