Up to three-quarters of Australia’s population will be drenched by a 4,000km rain band this week as a low-pressure system hurtles towards the east coast.
The tropical low and associated cold front is due to cross the southeast on Tuesday, after sending temperatures plunging in South Australia on Monday.
Forecasters say millions from Tasmania all the way up to the Cape York Peninsula will be soaked by the enormous rain band this week.
The low is expected to deliver a ‘decent amount of rain’ to every state and territory in Australia between now and the weekend, according to Weatherzone.
Forecasters say large parts of New South Wales and Queensland will be drenched, with powerful winds to impact SA, Victoria and Tasmania.
Predictions of widespread falls between 10mm and 40mm in central Queensland and NSW are forecast between Friday and Monday.
Central Queensland could record up to 100mm of rain, with Brisbane and Townsville, in the state’s far north, also receiving a rare soaking.
The Victorian SES has advised people to make adequate preparations ahead of the powerful winds and take precautions while driving.
Several systems are set to serve up a wet end to July in most states and territories this week (above, predicted rainfall totals for Wednesday)
Cold weather, wind and rain have been predicted for much of Australia’s southeast this week (pictured, a walker at Bondi Beach)
Damaging wind gusts are expected to average from 65 to 90km/hour, with peak gusts of 125km/hour in elevated areas such as Falls Creek and Mount Hotham.
Blizzards have also been tipped in the state’s alpine regions.
A second low pressure system is expected to bring widespread rain across the eastern half of Australia between Friday and Sunday.
The rain will be ‘heavier and more widespread’ than the current system due to the influence of a large northwest cloud band, Weatherzone said.
Perth shivered through a 3.2C morning on Tuesday, five degrees below its July average. Other regions saw temperatures fall to record lows, including a maximum temperature of 13.9C at Red Rocks Point, its lowest in six years.
Another cold burst will follow in WA’s capital on Wednesday going into Thursday.
Destructive wind warnings are in place as a low pressure system moves east from the Bight (pictured is a Weatherzone map of the system on Tuesday)
Perth
Wednesday: Showers. Possible storm .Min 8C. Max 17C.
Thursday: Showers easing. Min 5C. Max 14C.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Min 3C. Max 15C.
Adelaide
Wednesday: Showers. Min 8C. Max 15C.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Min 8C. Max 17C.
Friday: Rain. Min 8C. Max 13C.
Sydney
Wednesday: Shower or two. Min 12C. Max 19C.
Thursday: Sunny. Min 8C. Max 18C.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Min 6C. Max 19C.
Melbourne
Wednesday: Shower or two. Min 7C. Max 14C.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. Min 6C. Max 15C.
Friday: Showers increasing. Min 6C. Max 14C.
Melbourne (above), Adelaide, and Perth are set to receive rain for the majority of the week
Hobart
Wednesday: Possible shower. Min 8C. Max 13C.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Min 5C. Max 13C.
Friday: Mostly sunny. Min 4C. Max 14C.
Canberra
Wednesday: Morning frost. Partly cloudy. Min 1C. Max 12C.
Thursday: Morning frost. Sunny. Min -4C. Max 13C.
Friday: Frost. Late shower or two. Min -4C. Max 13.
Brisbane
Wednesday: Showers. Min 13C. Max 22C.
Thursday: Sunny. Min12C. Max 22C.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Min 10C. Max 22C.
Darwin
Wednesday: Sunny. Min 19C. Max 31C.
Thursday: Cloud clearing. Min 21C. Max 31C.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Min 22C. Max 31C.
