Queensland’s north, east and south-east are expected to be hardest hit by storms, Victoria’s capital is likely to experience one of its coldest Christmas holidays on record and Perth is bracing for temperatures to reach the 40s.
Emergency services are urging Australians to stay informed, plan ahead and remain alert as extreme weather events unfold across the country.
Queensland is on alert as Christmas storms intensify
She said water vapor images showed exceptionally high humidity – a key ingredient for storm development – stretching across northern Australia and northeastern New South Wales.
Severe thunderstorm warnings are in place for parts of the Wide Bay Burnett, Capricornia, Central Highlands and Coalfields, where heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding. Areas near the NSW border are also at risk of damaging winds and hail.
Severe thunderstorms are forecast for large parts of Queensland. Source: MONKEY / .
“Those are wind gusts over 60 miles per hour,” Scully said, with “a risk of large hail.”
Flood warnings remain in force across western Queensland and eastern parts of the Northern Territory as repeated days of rain saturate catchments and rivers begin to rise.
“The terrain is becoming wet and the catchments are becoming soaked,” Scully said, warning that roads could be cut and communities isolated in the coming days, with both flash and river flooding possible.
Melbourne trades summer heat for winter heat
As northern Australia braces for storms, Melbourne is preparing for a cool and subdued Christmas, with a forecast high of just 17 degrees Celsius under cloudy and windy skies.
Cool temperatures are forecast for Melbourne. Source: MONKEY / Diego Fidele
If temperatures fail to rise above that level, it would be Melbourne’s fourth coldest Christmas day since records began in 1855 – a stark difference from last year’s festive heat, when the city reached 33 degrees Celsius.
This year, Victorians are more likely to reach for sweaters than sunscreen.
Heatwave in WA increases risk of bushfires over Christmas
Senior BoM meteorologist Robert Lawry said a deepening west coast trough was creating “very warm conditions” along the west coast, including Perth and the south west.
Emergency services warned that the hot and windy conditions could significantly increase the risk of bushfires in the south-west land division.
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