Australia weather: Multi-state rain band to lash NSW, Victoria, Queensland and SA

A concerning and broad weather event is forecast to bring rain to nearly all of Australia’s southeast, with “significant” fears for towns and communities.

A wide sweeping rainband is set to hit nearly all of Australia’s east coast, with four states in the firing line.

After last week’s barrage of wet weather, another rain band forming on Monday evening from Central Australia to South Australia will move eastwards, with a deepening low-pressure system bringing a series of showers and thunderstorms, said Sky News Meteorologist Rob Sharpe.

Speaking to news.com.au Mr Sharpe said the “broad” rain event will particularly target NSW and Queensland by Wednesday evening, with the heaviest rain forecast for northern NSW and southern and central Queensland. Isolated areas could receive up to 100mm by next Monday, with the rain predicted to lash Tasmania by Friday.

“NSW and Queensland won’t be on par with what’s happened in Victoria but for individual towns and people it will be quite significant,” said Mr Sharpe.

The weather band will largely impact northern NSW and central Queensland. Picture: Sky News.

Macintyre River around Goondiwindi on the Queensland-NSW border is also likely to see another flood from this event, Mr Sharpe says.

“A lot of this water will flow into the already inundated Darling River which will make the situation worse.”

While the northern states are most at risk for flooding, nearly all areas in the southeast will also be hit with wet weather, as the rainband moves eastwards.

In Sydney, possible daily rainfall totals of up to 10mm can be expected from Monday to Friday, while Moree in the state’s north could see up to 35mm on Thursday.

There’s a high possibility that Queensland’s capital of Brisbane will also be hit with showers of up to 10mm and 15mm on Friday and Saturday.

Eight-day rainfall totals to Monday, October 24. Picture: Sky News.

Despite the renewed flood risks, Mr Sharpe says this week’s barrage of wet weather will likely not amount to the devastating floods observed in Victoria and Tasmania. There are fears around 34,000 homes across Victoria could be flooded or isolated due to the historic flooding event.

“In Victoria and Tasmania, the heavy rain largely occurred in a short period of 36 hours. The rain that’s coming this week will be spread over multiple days,” said Mr Sharpe.

“When it’s not quite as short and sharp, the rivers don’t respond as significantly.”

As it stands, the flood affected regions across the border towns of Victoria and NSW, will also likely escape the heaviest falls from this rainband.

The rainfall will bring showers and possible storms nearly all of Australia’s east coast. Picture: Sky News.

‘Concerning low-pressure system’ could develop

While the latest rainband will likely escape the most significant storms, there is the potential for another “concerning” low pressure system to develop later this week.

Although Mr Sharpe said it was too soon to forecast the positioning and intensity of the weather event, the system could bring renewed flooding fears for Victoria.

The string of wet weather will also likely see the Murray-Darling region surpass their October rain record of 101mm. As it stands the area has already exceeded it’s monthly average rainfall of 43mm.

On Monday morning, Bureau of Metrology meteorologist Dean Narramore said several river catchments are believed to peak on Monday. To date, Victorian man Kevin Wills, 71, tragically died in his backyard after he was trapped in his Rochester home. His wife was also trapped at their property, however emergency services were able to rescue her.

The Rochester township in rural Victoria flooded after the Campaspe River surpassed 2011 flood levels. Picture: Jason Edwards

“On the Avoca River around the Charlton area, it looks like will peak around 8m today with major floods that will cause some issues there today,” he told the ABC.

“Moving further eastwards, we’re looking at major flooding continuing and it will for a number of days on the Campaspe and the Goulburn River.

“We’ll see the floodwaters peak in Echuca and Moama, similar to the 1993 levels.”

Originally published as Australia weather: Multi-state rain band to lash NSW, Victoria, Queensland and SA