Heavy rain and strong winds will batter most of Australia over the weekend following a night of wild weather that saw residents rescued from floodwaters.
State Emergency Service rescued 14 people on Thursday night, including seven who were saved on flooded roads in the New South Wales central west.
Six of those were drivers who ignored road closure signs, while one was camping on a riverbank.
Much of Victoria, South Australia, ACT, Queensland, Tasmania and southern NSW will experience rainfall and strong winds between Friday and Monday.
While Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart, Adelaide and Brisbane can expect more wet conditions, Sydney is set to see sunshine until the middle of next week.
Rain and high winds look set to dampen the weekend in much of Victoria, South Australia, the ACT, Queensland, Tasmania and southern NSW between now and Monday
Several people had to be rescued from flooded roads overnight after ignoring warnings as much of Australia prepares for a wet and windy weekend (Pictured, six people had to be rescued from vehicles on NSW’s Mitchell Highway)
Torrential rain in the NSW central west on Thursday closed the Mitchell Highway for a 66km stretch between Wellington and Molong and saw heavy falls further north.
‘We’ve had a fair bit of rainfall over inland NSW and southern Queensland and band of rain and thunderstorms yesterday and overnight,’ said Christie Johnson, a senior meteorologist with the Bureau of Meteorology.
Mount Lindesay, east of Narrabri, saw NSW’s heaviest rain fall with 77 milimetres. Both Narrabri and Gunnedah, 100km south, had 50mm.
Several river systems in the NSW central west are subject to flood warnings, including the Lachlan River west of Condobolin and Macquarie River at Warren.
The NSW central west faces more rain next week and further risks of flooding.
‘From the middle of the week a rain bearing system looks like moving across NSW, likely to be on the western slopes of the divide, but it will be widespread and could mean further river rises.’
The NSW SES pleaded with motorists to make ‘smart, safe decisions’ and to check forecasts and for road closures.
Several river systems in the NSW central west are subject to flood warnings, including the Lachlan River west of Condobolin and Macquarie River at Warren
Heavy rain began on Thursday and was set to continue through Friday and Saturday for many parts of NSW
‘The NSW SES reminds people to never drive, ride or walk through flood water. If you find a flooded road, stop, turn around and find another way,’ Greg Nash, spokesperson for the NSW SES told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Pushing through a flooded road isn’t worth the risk.
‘Be aware that yesterday’s rain will impact a number of river systems around the state and river heights may change quickly.’
Heavy rain around inland southern Queensland has a major flood warning in place for the Balonne river which could threaten the small town of Dirranbandi.
Most cites in the eastern states face wet, windy and cold weather this weekend, Ms Johnson said.
‘A series of cold fronts and troughs will push through the south-east of the county including Victoria, Tasmania, south-east South Australia and southern NSW,’ she said.
They will bring lower temperatures, gusty winds and potential for thunder for much of Victoria and into the southern slopes of the great dividing range in NSW.
‘Melbourne, Hobart and Adelaide could see showers both days, and Canberra too.’
Many towns along the inland western slopes of the Great Dividing Range are copping heavy rain and that will continue this weekend
Ms Johnson said with snow down to 1,100m the alpine ski resorts could see heavy snowfalls of up to 50cms.
‘It could mean good snow conditions for the school holidays,’ she said.
‘But Sydney looks like it could see a fair bit of sunshine until the middle of next week.’
Even Perth could see rain this weekend, although Ms Johnson said a change bringing strong winds and warm temperatures on Monday could create an extreme bushfire risk.
The west should see another cool change in the middle of next week bringing showers.