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Storm warnings for Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane as cold front ‘packs a punch’

By · Via The Guardian · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The severe weather system has already triggered heavy rainfall and wind gusts topping 100 km/h across mountainous sections of northern Victoria and southern New South Wales. Active storms are projected to push eastward through Canberra, coastal regions south of Sydney like Wollongong, and inland Queensland by Saturday evening. By Sunday, the system will track further north to threaten a corridor stretching from Newcastle to Gympie, placing Brisbane and regional river catchments at serious risk. Meteorologists expect damaging winds, large hail, and flash flooding to persist as the primary hazards throughout the weekend.

Key points

  • Severe weather threats will shift progressively northward on Sunday across a broad coasta…: Severe weather threats will shift progressively northward on Sunday across a broad coastal corridor extending from Newcastle to Gympie.
  • Damaging to destructive winds remain the primary danger for communities caught in the pat…: Damaging to destructive winds remain the primary danger for communities caught in the path of the advancing cold front.
  • Areas that endured heavy rain over the past fortnight face heightened flash flooding risk…: Areas that endured heavy rain over the past fortnight face heightened flash flooding risks as storms impact the New South Wales mid-north coast and northern rivers.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Storm warnings are in place for multiple capital cities across Australia’s east and south-east as a severe weather front sweeps across the country.

Heavy rain, winds and thunderstorms are forecast to hit Melbourne and eastern Victoria throughout Saturday afternoon as a cold front meets warm, humid air.

The storm front is then expected to travel further east, impacting Canberra and inland NSW before reaching the east coast on Sunday, stretching as far as southern Queensland.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned of possible flash flooding in some areas and potentially destructive winds of over 125km/h that could bring down large trees or damage property.

Melbourne and parts of Victoria recorded moderate rainfall and some lightning on Saturday morning, with a more intense band of thunderstorms forecast into the afternoon.

“It’s this follow-up band of storms which could pack a punch,” BoM meteorologist Angus Hines said on Saturday.

The storms are expected to impact Melbourne, parts of Gippsland, the north-eastern ranges, and north-central Victoria, with damaging winds the greatest risk.

The risk area will extend further north through inland NSW into the…

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