On a late October weekend, a cold front pushing into warm, humid air over south-east Australia has set off a run of severe storms that will roll across the country's populous east, from Melbourne through Canberra and Sydney to Brisbane. It is the familiar meeting of cool and warm air that has always shaped this continent's weather, now arriving with the threat of hail, gales strong enough to topple trees, and floodwaters in places already soaked by a fortnight of rain. Those in its path are being asked to watch the sky and the official alerts closely, as the storm moves through the day and int
Storm warnings span Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane as cold front brings hail, wind and flash flood risk
"It's this follow-up band of storms which could pack a punch."
Mark
Why are warnings covering four capital cities at once?
Mimi
It's one system moving across the country. A cold front is meeting warm, humid air, and that clash drives the storms. Melbourne gets it Saturday afternoon, then it heads to Canberra, inland NSW, and the east coast on Sunday.
Mark
So Saturday morning's rain wasn't the main event?
Mimi
No. Melbourne had moderate rain and some lightning, but Angus Hines pointed to a follow-up band of storms in the afternoon as the one that could pack a punch.
Luke
Worth being precise here: these are forecasts. The report confirms wind gusts above 100km/h on Saturday morning in the northern Victorian and southern NSW mountains. The 125km/h figure is what the bureau says is possible, not something measured.
Mark
What's the greatest danger in Victoria?
Mimi
Damaging winds. Large trees could come down and property could be damaged. Further north and on the NSW coast, hail and heavy rain join the list.
Mark
And Sunday?
Mimi
The concern moves to Brisbane in the afternoon and early evening. It also covers the NSW mid-north coast, the northern rivers, the tablelands and the Hunter, within a broader zone from Newcastle to Gympie.
Luke
Timing is loose, though. Hines talks about mid to late afternoon for some areas and possibly evening near the coast. Nobody can say yet exactly where the worst cells will land.
Mark
Is there a flooding angle beyond the rain itself?
Mimi
Yes. Areas that had heightened rainfall in the past fortnight are more exposed to flash flooding. Hines said people there should watch the radar on Sunday.
The Pulse
- A second, more violent band of thunderstorms is gathering behind the morning's rain and lightning, and Melbourne was first to feel its edge on Saturday afternoon.
- Winds above 125km/h threaten to bring down large trees and damage property, while gusts over 100km/h have already been recorded in northern Victoria and southern New South Wales.
- Flash flood warnings sit over ground that has already absorbed heavy rain this past fortnight, leaving little room for water to drain.
- The front is sweeping east and north, with Canberra and inland NSW under watch on Saturday before Sydney's coast and Brisbane are struck on Sunday afternoon and evening.
- Residents are being urged to keep close watch on radar and Bureau of Meteorology alerts, as the worst of the weather is still ahead.
On a late October weekend, a cold front pushing into warm, humid air over south-east Australia has set off a run of severe storms that will roll across the country's populous east, from Melbourne through Canberra and Sydney to Brisbane. It is the familiar meeting of cool and warm air that has always shaped this continent's weather, now arriving with the threat of hail, gales strong enough to topple trees, and floodwaters in places already soaked by a fortnight of rain. Those in its path are being asked to watch the sky and the official alerts closely, as the storm moves through the day and into the next.
By Saturday morning, Melbourne and parts of Victoria had already seen moderate rain and some lightning, but the Bureau of Meteorology warned that this was only the opening act. A second, more intense band of storms was forecast for the afternoon, as a cold front collided with warm, humid air over the south-east. BoM meteorologist Angus Hines said this follow-up band could pack a real punch, with damaging winds the greatest concern across Melbourne, Gippsland and the ranges.
The warnings reach well beyond Victoria. Gusts of more than 100km/h had already been recorded in the northern Victorian mountains and southern New South Wales, and the front is moving east and north. Canberra and inland NSW come next, and by evening the risk stretches toward Wollongong and the Illawarra and into Queensland's southern interior. Timing varies, with the most active storms expected in mid to late afternoon inland and later on the coast.
On Sunday the focus shifts north, to Brisbane, the NSW mid-north coast, the northern rivers, the Hunter and the tablelands. Hail, heavy rain, flash flooding and winds above 125km/h are all possible, across a broad zone running from Newcastle up to Gympie. Because parts of the region have already had a wet fortnight, the flood risk is heightened. Hines's advice for Sunday was simple: keep watching the radar, because it is a day when big storms may be heading your way.
By Saturday morning, Melbourne and parts of Victoria had already seen moderate rain and some lightning. The Bureau of Meteorology says that was only the opening act. A second, more intense band of thunderstorms was forecast for the afternoon, as a cold front met warm, humid air over the south-east.
"It's this follow-up band of storms which could pack a punch," BoM meteorologist Angus Hines said on Saturday. The storms were expected to affect Melbourne, parts of Gippsland, the north-eastern ranges and north-central Victoria, with damaging winds the greatest risk.
The bureau warned of possible flash flooding in some areas, and of destructive winds above 125km/h that could bring down large trees or damage property. In the mountains of northern Victoria and southern New South Wales, a severe wind warning was already in place. Gusts of more than 100km/h had been recorded there on Saturday morning.
From Victoria, the front is forecast to move east and north. Canberra and inland NSW are next in its path. By evening, the risk area stretches up through inland NSW to Queensland's southern interior. It also reaches along the NSW coast south of Sydney, around Wollongong and the Illawarra. The forecast there includes damaging winds, heavy rainfall and large hailstones.
Timing varies across the region. Hines expected some very active storms in mid to late afternoon for many of these areas. Closer to the east coast, they may not arrive until the evening.
On Sunday, the focus shifts north. Heavy rain and storms are forecast around Brisbane during the afternoon and early evening. Severe thunderstorms are most likely on the NSW mid-north coast, in the northern rivers, parts of the tablelands and in the Hunter region. Hail, heavy rain, flash flooding and destructive winds of more than 125km/h are all possible there. A broader area of potential concern runs from Newcastle, north of Sydney, up to Gympie on the Sunshine Coast.
Hines said that places with heightened rainfall over the past fortnight are also at risk of flash flooding. For people in the affected area on Sunday, his advice was direct: "tomorrow is definitely a day you'll want to keep a watch on the radar to see if any big storms are headed your way."
Notable Quotes
It's this follow-up band of storms which could pack a punch.— Angus Hines, Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist
Tomorrow is definitely a day you'll want to keep a watch on the radar to see if any big storms are headed your way.— Angus Hines, Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist
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