Australia is set to see out January with heavy rain and wild storms, which could spark flash flooding in four states.
Most of the nation’s capital cities sweltered through a heatwave this week as temperatures soared into the high 30s and low 40s, with thousands flocking to the beach to celebrate Australia Day.
But the warmer weather had dissipated by Wednesday and was replaced by grey, dreary skies as the mercury only crawling into the low 20s.
The drizzly conditions in Sydney are set to linger throughout the week and into the weekend, as Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia cop their own soaking.
Australia is set to see out January with heavy rain and wild storms. Pictured: Two women watch stormy conditions in Byron Bay
A map of Australia on shows the rain forecast to lash NSW, Victoria, QLD and WA on Friday
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of severe weather in Far North Queensland as a tropical low moves east across Cape York Peninsula.
The weather event is ‘bringing heavy rainfall to the region’.
‘A Flood Watch and Severe Weather Warning are current,’ the bureau said.
‘Monsoon activity is expected to remain high for the coming days.’
A severe weather warning has also been issued for Western Australia’s Kimberley district as a tropical low lies about 100km west of Wyndham.
‘The low is expected to cause frequent showers and thunderstorms over the Kimberley for the next couple of days,’ the bureau said.
Victorians have also been warned of heavy rainfall on Friday, as a deepening low pressure trough crosses through the state
Storm clouds are seen over the Sydney skyline on January 4. Rain is forecast for the Harbour City after a heatwave
A bureau alert said the heavy rain may lead to flash flooding on Thursday and Friday.
The state’s capital city, Perth, is enjoying sunny conditions for the remainder of the week with a high of 31C on Thursday and 34C forecast on Friday.
Victorians have also been warned of heavy rainfall on Friday, as a deepening low pressure trough crosses through the state.
The bureau said it will ‘combine with an infeed of tropical moisture from the upper atmosphere which will result in statewide rainfall and thunderstorms on Friday’.
The rain will develop in the early hours of the morning in western Victoria and will extend east into the warning area during the morning.
‘Widespread totals of 30 to 60mm are expected in the warning area during the day, with isolated heavier falls of 80 to 90mm possible,’ a warning read.
Pictured: A couple shelter together from the rain with a black umbrella
Residents in north central Victoria are warned the rain on Friday (pictured) could lead to flash flooding
‘The heaviest falls are more likely to be experienced with thunderstorms in the late afternoon and evening.’
Residents in north central Victoria are warned the rain could lead to flash flooding.
Melbourne reached 28C on Thursday but the temperatures will drop ahead of the weekend, with 18C forecast on Friday.
The city will also be in for a drenching on Friday and a shower or two is expected on Saturday.
Sydney should hit 26C on Friday, with showers and cloudy conditions forecast.
‘It’s going to be reasonably wet where we’ll see a continuation of showers, which will get more intense on Thursday, which will continue for the next few days and possibly into next week,’ Bureau of Meteorology forecaster David Wilkie told Daily Mail Australia.
‘It’s the result of a southerly change that came through 11pm Tuesday night, which is making its way up the coast.’
The Bureau of Meteorology has released flash flooding warnings for parts of Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of New South Wales amid the change in weather, with flooding expected.
‘Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and damaging winds in the warning area over the next several hours,’ BOM said on Thursday.
‘Locations which may be affected include Wagga Wagga, Albury, Deniliquin, Griffith, Hay and Ivanhoe.’
A shower or two is forecast in Brisbane on Friday and Saturday, with temperatures reaching the high 20s.
The rain in the Queensland capital is likely to continue into next week with a possible shower forecast on Sunday and Monday.
South Australia has also copped the brunt of the rain, with Adelaide recording its wettest January day since 1977 with 29.8mm in the 24 hrs to 9am on Australia Day.
Early morning showers are also expected in the city on Friday morning, with a high of 27C, before the rain clears for the weekend.
A maximum of 21C is forecast in Hobart on Friday with rain developing, while Canberra will hit 20C with showers expected.
Darwin will be hot in the 30s with rain and a possible storm.