Australia’s south-eastern states are bracing for heavy rain, potential flooding and strong winds over the next two days as a low pressure system intensifies over Victoria, heralding the arrival of La Niña.
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast downpours across the north of Victoria with damaging winds to follow across the alps.
The Bom senior meteorologist Kevin Parkyn told reporters a low pressure system linked to tropical moisture was set to intensify over Victoria on Wednesday night.
“In some parts of the state, that rainfall will be quite well received … but the concern is we will see these short bursts over a few hours where you could see falls of 50 or even 60mm.”
He said the north-west and Gippsland would welcome the rain, but north-east Victoria is on flood watch, with minor flooding possible from Thursday morning onwards.
The bureau has predicted rainfall of between 40 and 70mm over the north-east ranges up to noon on Friday, with isolated totals of 80 to 120mm in elevated areas.
Parkyn said Victoria’s weather would settle down by the weekend, with a warming trend predicted.
A severe weather warning was also issued for New South Wales residents in the Snowy Mountains, parts of the south coast, south-west slopes and in the Australian Capital Territory.
Damaging winds of up to 90km/h with peak gusts of 120km/h were expected from Thursday morning for areas 1,900 metres above sea level. For those below, winds were set to average between 60 and 70km/h from mid-morning on Thursday.
The NSW State Emergency Service advised residents to move cars away from trees, or under cover, and secure loose items around houses and yards.
The winds were expected to ease late on Thursday with the frontal system pushed away to the north-east.
In South Australia, a low pressure system near the eastern border was set to develop on Wednesday and move south-eastwards, with heavy rainfall in the areas of Hawker, Port Augusta, Jamestown, Peterborough, Olary and Renmark.
The bureau was forecasting six-hour rainfall totals on Wednesday evening of around 30 to 50mm, with potential flash flooding and thunderstorms.
Northern Tasmania was expected to receive between 60 and 90mm of rainfall on Thursday, which could lead to flash flooding. Bom has said the heaviest rainfall was expected during the late morning on Wednesday and afternoon, with rain easing during the evening.
Damaging north-easterly winds could also hit Devonport, Burnie, Smithton, Scottsdale, St Helens and Bicheno.
