Dramatic maps reveal huge deluge to hit on New Year's weekend
The final few days of 2020 and first days of 2021 are set to be wet on Australia’s north and east coasts with ongoing showers contributing to heavy rainfall totals.
Weatherzone Meteorologist Esteban Abellan told Yahoo News Australia some areas along the Queensland coast are in for a deluge.
“There is a trough along the Queensland coast and a low pressure system forming bringing widespread showers from Bundaberg to as far north as Cairns,” Mr Abellan said.
“In the next 48 hours some places around the Mackay area could exceed 100mm.”
Rain for Queensland on New Year’s Eve
Bowen, in the Whitsundays, could receive as much as 50mm on New Year’s Eve, 35mm on January 1 and 25mm on Saturday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Brisbane won’t cop anywhere near as much though with a total of less than 30mm from New Year’s Eve until Sunday.
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Mr Abellan said the moisture should move off the coast by Friday, which is also New Year’s Day, but more isolated showers will begin at a lower intensity.
“In general, it’s a pretty wet weekend for Queensland,” he said.
“NSW has a persistent trough with a northeasterly airflow bringing a lot of moisture.”
Earlier this month some cities in southeast Queensland and the border with NSW copped up to a month’s worth of rain in just days.
Plenty of rain on the cards for northern and eastern Australia as we roll into 2021. pic.twitter.com/L56Gf0we7o
— Ben Domensino (@Ben_Domensino) December 29, 2020
NSW north coast in for a drenching
Mr Abellan said the NSW Mid North Coast, Hunter region and Northern Rivers will receive the state’s “heaviest falls” with the Central West and Southern Tablelands possibly experiencing thunderstorms.
“It won’t be over in the new year and will intensify across the weekend in NSW and into Victoria,” he said.
“We’ll see 20-40mm of widespread rainfall and 60-80mm in northeast NSW.”
Coffs Harbour on the Mid North Coast should receive up to 45mm from Thursday right through to the start of next week. Tuesday could see the area cop up to 25mm though.
Cities in the state’s north are forecast for similar conditions.
Wet NYE celebrations for Sydney
Sydney’s rain will intensify after New Year’s Eve celebrations die down with up to 8mm on December 31 followed by 20mm on New Year’s Day and Saturday. Rainfalls will decrease from Sunday onwards though with up to 6mm each day.
South Australia and Tasmania will be spared the rain, while Western Australia should have some minor reprieve from ongoing sweltering conditions.
“Today (Wednesday) will see Perth top 36,” Mr Abellan said.
“It should stay above 30 for the rest of this week which is more moderate compared to last week.”
Perth’s residents sweltered through 40 degrees on Christmas Day.
Darwin is also in for a drenching with potentially a total of 120mm of rain from Thursday through to Tuesday.
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