80 per cent of Australia to be soaked
Australians from Perth to parts of the Northern Territory and Queensland will get wet this week as a rainfront sweeps across much of the country from Tuesday.
Meteorologist Mirian Bradbury from the Bureau of Meteorology said the rainfront would hit the WA shoreline on Tuesday and then progressively move across the continent, hitting South Australia and the Northern Territory from Wednesday and then moving into the eastern states on Thursday.
As the rain front moves to the WA border, it will likely tap into tropical moisture from the Indian Ocean, Ms Bradbury said.
“That’s going to give fuel to any showers or possible showers that develop along this front line.”
Gusty winds could accompany the front and Ms Bradbury warned the Victorian Alps and southern Alpine region of NSW could see some “damaging winds”.
Across Perth, BOM forecasts rainfall totals of between about 15mm to possibly 50mm from Tuesday to Thursday.
Weatherzone has reported up to 80 per cent of Australia could be hit with a downpour, due in part to a potential second rain system hitting Western Australia later in the weekend.
Adelaide could receive between 8mm and 25mm across Thursday and Friday.
Melbourne could see between 2mm and 18mm on Thursday and Friday while Sydney could receive 1mm to 40mm across Friday and into the weekend.
But the rain won’t end at the weekend, with Weatherzone and BOM both predicting a second rain-bearing system to bring more rain to WA from Saturday or Sunday.
The rainfall front will deliver wet weather to parts of Australia that have so far suffered a rainfall “deficit” this year, Ms Bradbury said, including Perth and Adelaide.