Weather warning as extreme heat and thunderstorms lash Australia

Both sides of the country are set to experience wild weather on Friday, with severe thunderstorms and temperatures way above average.

Residents in Queensland and NSW have been issued a warning as wild and wet weather continues to sweep through the states, while the other side of Australia braces itself for extreme fire danger as hot weather is predicted to reach 16C above average.

Overnight, severe thunderstorms hit eastern NSW and southeastern Queensland areas, with the heaviest rainfall and thunderstorms recorded from Gympie to Sydney.

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of Queensland. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology

Overnight, heavy hailstorms hit parts of Queensland and NSW, with residents in Gulmarrad recording a severe storm with hailstones the size of golf balls.

While showers are expected to ease into the morning across the easterly part of Australia, people should keep their umbrellas nearby as the wet weather is set to return later in the afternoon.

Severe thunderstorms and cloudy conditions will continue lashing Brisbane throughout Friday, with temperatures reaching a high of 30C.

Thunderstorms lashed parts of Queensland and NSW overnight.

Sydney residents can expect sunshine breaking through the clouds for the majority of the day, with a blanket of clouds covering the city in the afternoon for a top of 20C.

The high pressure system is also expected to travel across the lower parts of the country, meaning Victoria and Tasmania will have a fairly dry day.

Melbourne will record a high of 17Cc on Friday, with cloudy skies set to dominate throughout the day and into the evening. Hobart will face a similar trend, with an expected maximum temperature of 15C and scattered showers throughout the day.

It was a wet and wild Thursday night for residents on the east coast. Picture: Craig Warhurst

On the other side of the country, however, things are far less wet, with residents warned of extreme fire danger, as the dry and hot weather rips through South Australia and Western Australia.

South Australia can expect a mild day across the state, with southerly winds hitting the lower parts of the state into the afternoon and Adelaide reaching a top of 24C. In the northerly areas, however, residents can expect a high of 35C, with a high fire danger warning issued in the Mid North region.

A trough stationed in the centre of Western Australia is bringing the heat across the interior and the south of the state, with temperatures in Esperance predicted to reach 16C above average on Friday.

“Along the west coast, southerly winds will keep the worst of the heat away,” Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Jonathan How said

Heat will continue passing through the Wheatbelt, with areas like Kalgoorlie expected to reach a high of 40C.

Northern Territory residents can expect a warm and wet day, with scattered showers passing over Darwin and a high of 32C.

Originally published as Weather warning as extreme heat and thunderstorms lash Australia