East coast severe weather: Floods, snow and damaging winds threat

Aussies have been urged to brace for wild weather as a massive 5000 kilometre system sets its sights on the nation, bringing downpour and dangerous winds.

The cloud band, described as an “atmospheric river” stretching from the Indian Ocean, is set to unleash drenching rains, damaging winds, and severe flooding.

Satellite imagery from Weatherzone showed the severe weather system developing over the country on Friday, revealing it will deliver widespread rainfall over the coming week.

It initially triggered minimal rainfall, but is expected to merge with a cold front, unleashing substantial rainfall across southern and southeastern regions.

Rainfall totals of 20 to 40 millimetres are anticipated across parts of Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and the ACT.

Certain parts of Victoria and southern New South Wales are expected to experience heavier totals ranging from 50 to 100 millimetres over the three-day window.

Weatherzone issued a warning saying, “the rain developing this weekend could cause flooding in some states, most likely in Vic and southern NSW”.

“This system is also likely to cause damaging winds, snow, hail and thunderstorms across southern and southeastern Australia.”

Aussies on the south coast began a frosty weekend on Saturday with meteorologists warning the wet conditions were likely to track across southeast and eastern Australia

Additionally, a low-pressure system forming in the southern ocean combined with a northward sweeping cold front would deliver a “cold icy blast” to the country’s southwest, the Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Ilana Cherny said.

By Sunday, the front will advance further into South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales, bringing wet, blustery conditions and potential thunderstorms.

Temperatures in Adelaide and Melbourne are set to drop between two to three degrees over the weekend, with both regions seeing highs of 14 degrees celsius and low of eight degrees celsius.

The NSW capital is poised to be on the warmer side, with highs of 20 degrees celsius and lows 9 degrees celsius over the weekend.

The alpine regions of Victoria and New South Wales are bracing for fierce winds reaching up to 100 kilometre per hour on Sunday. The entire weather system is expected to shift eastwards on Monday before finally moving offshore.

“A cold air will bring some snow atop our mountains …. Ahead of that snow we’re going to see plenty of rainfall on Saturday and Sunday which is likely to melt much of our pre-existing snow,” Ms. Cherny warned.

“It will be a little bit of a mixed bag for the ski resorts in Victoria and New South Wales,” she said.

Meanwhile, severe weather warnings for damaging winds alongside flood warnings remain active across parts of New South Wales and Victoria.

“A cold air will bring some snow atop our mountains …. Ahead of that snow we’re going to see plenty of rainfall on Saturday and Sunday which is likely to melt much of our pre-existing snow,” Ms Cherny said.

“It will be a little bit of a mixed bag for the ski resorts in Victoria and New South Wales.”

Severe weather warnings for damaging winds and flood warnings for parts of New South Wales and Victoria remain in place.

Meteorologists have said the weather system may linger on for the early parts of Tuesday before moving eastwards.

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