Severe thunderstorms with high winds, huge hailstones, and potential flash flooding are set to hit eastern Australia, bringing an abrupt end to a weekend of sunshine. The dangerous storm cell is expected to hit eastern New South Wales (NSW) on Monday afternoon and continue into the evening, with the Weatherzone meteorologists warning that the system could bring supercell thunderstorms, hail bigger than cricket balls, and intense rainfall.
The system is forecast to stick around until Tuesday, with the eastern states in for a wet and cloudy Tuesday. The Bureau of Meteorology has identified Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Armidale, Sawtell, and Dorrigo as the areas expected to be worst hit on Monday, while Sydney, Wollongong, and Newcastle could also be affected as the front moves in.
The Bureau advised people to unplug computers and appliances and avoid using their phones during the storm.
The State Emergency Services issued some storm advice, including moving cars under cover or away from trees, securing or putting away loose items around the house, yard, and balcony, and keeping at least eight meters away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energized, reporting fallen power lines, and unplugging computers and appliances.
People should stay indoors away from windows during the storm, and make sure to keep children and pets indoors too. If necessary, call the SES on 132 500 for emergency help in floods and storms.
The severe thunderstorms formed across north-eastern New South Wales as warmth, humidity, and instability collided along the ranges, causing heat to be pushed along before a southerly change makes its way up the coast.
The cool southerly will combine with the warm and humid air and explode into thunderstorms, which could become severe with large hail, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall. There is also the possibility of some supercell thunderstorms developing, most likely in the Hunter and Mid North Coast regions.
Supercells are the most dangerous thunderstorms and can bring hail that’s larger than cricket balls, winds over 120km/h, and intense rainfall leading to flash-flooding, according to Weatherzone.
On Tuesday, it will be cloudy in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, with showers in Darwin and Hobart. Brisbane and Perth are the only capital cities likely to see sunshine on Tuesday. The temperatures will vary from a low of 12°C in Hobart and 14°C in Canberra and Adelaide to highs of 31°C in Brisbane and 38°C in Perth.
Wednesday’s weather will be similar across the capitals, with Perth and Brisbane again most likely to see sunshine, and the other capitals getting rain or clouds. For more detailed weather forecasts for each capital city, see the list below.
»Severe thunderstorms with high winds set to hit eastern Australia«
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