Two massive rain clouds are sweeping the country and will soak the eastern and western seaboard this weekend.
Sydney had been hit with 98mm of rain by Friday morning, making it the wettest start to an August in 168 years for Australia’s biggest city. And it’s not ready to ease up.
‘Unfortunately for Sydneysiders who prefer dry days and uninterrupted weekend sport, more rain is likely to soak Sydney and surrounding areas on Saturday and Sunday,’ Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino said.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has also warned Perth to expect of heavy rain and possible flash flooding while the east coast will experience persistent coastal showers.
Perth is in for what forecasters call a ‘classic winter cold front,’ which could deliver up to 60mm of rain in the hills, pushing close to a 31-year August rainfall record.
The region will get ‘training’ showers which are likened to a train with carriages, where one shower or thunderstorm follows another over the same area.
Heavy rain capable of causing flash flooding is forecast for Perth and surrounding areas, with six-hourly totals of 25mm to 45mm likely and isolated falls up to 70mm possible before they ease on Saturday evening.
Perth’s August daily rainfall record is 63.8mm, set 31 years ago.
The west and east coasts will be smashed by rain this weekend while the middle will stay dry
Millions of Aussies will need their umbellas this weekend
A rain band roughly the size of Western Australia is crawling over the east coast, bringing showers to towns and cities across Queensland and NSW.
Saturday will be the worst for Sydneysiders with up to 25mm of rain set to fall before the wet weather gradually eases on Sunday.
The Randwick races were called off on Saturday morning which is rare.
Up north, Brisbane will be hit by persistent showers, especially on Saturday, before they too ease on Sunday.
Showers will stretch along the Queensland coast from the Gold Coast up to Rockhampton.
The wild weather will also bring hazardous surf conditions for the Sunshine and K’gari coasts, and strong wind warnings are in place for parts of Queensland’s coastline.
The centre of the country however, along with much of Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and the Northern Territory will escape the wet conditions and enjoy sunshine and mild to warm conditions.
