What does the ‘worst weather event in years’ mean for us?

THE BUREAU of Meteorology has called storms and flooding predicted as the "most significant rain event for many years" and issued a series of weather warnings .

Wet and foggy weather is forecast for Toowoomba. Picture: Nev Madsen

THE BUREAU of Meteorology has called storms and flooding predicted for large parts of eastern Australia as the "most significant rain event for many years" and issued a series of weather warnings as the big wet approaches.

The weather system means Toowoomba is staring down at least a week of wet weather that will take residents into the start of summer.

Rain is predicted to fall every day through until at least next Wednesday, according to the bureau's seven-day forecast.

BOM forecaster Adam Woods said a significant trough system moving into the Channel Country from today would makes its way eastward and toward the Darling Downs later in the week.

"And cooler weather conditions are coming behind it," he said, predicting temperatures across the region to drop.

The heaviest falls are forecast for Sunday and Monday.

The BOM's seven-day forecast for Toowoomba:

Forecast for the rest of Thursday
Maximum temperature of 23C and showers.
Cloudy. High (80%) chance of showers, becoming less likely this evening. The chance of a thunderstorm from late this morning. Winds easterly 25 to 30 km/h.

Friday 1 December
Minimum temperature of 17C and a maximum of  25C. A shower or two clearing with around 1 to 3 mm of rainfall expected.
Cloudy. Medium (60%) chance of showers in the morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm in the late morning and afternoon. Winds easterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light in the evening.

Saturday 2 December
Minimum temperature of 17 and a maximum of 27C. A shower or two with only 2 mm predicted.
Partly cloudy. Medium (50%) chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then tending easterly during the afternoon.

Sunday 3 December
Minimum temperature of 19C and a maximum of 24C. Showers and a possible storm will bring up to 30 mm of rain.
Cloudy. High (80%) chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds.

Monday 4 December
Minimum temperature of 17C and a maximum of 21C. A shower or two might lead to a storm and up to 25 mm of rain.
Cloudy. High (70%) chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds.

Tuesday 5 December
Minimum temperature of 17C and a maximum of 23C. A shower or two could produce up to 8 mm of rain. 
Partly cloudy. Medium (60%) chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm later in the day. Light winds.

Wednesday 6 December
Minimum temperature of 16C and a maximum of 26C. A possible shower would only produce less than  mm of rain.Chance of any rain: 30% 
Partly cloudy. Slight (30%) chance of a shower. Light winds.

Originally published as What does the ‘worst weather event in years’ mean for us?