Millions are set for a weekend drenching, as a persistent low pressure system and cold air moves out of Victoria and into interior areas of New South Wales.
Sky News Meteorologist Marina Neuman said holidaymakers across vast swathes of NSW should hold onto their umbrellas, with cooler air and intense rain clouds set to pelter the state on Saturday through to Sunday.
“What we’re going to be seeing and what you’re going to be feeling is cold air moving out of Victoria and moving into the Western half of NSW” she said.
The system will bring major rainfall to both the eastern coastline and interior regions, beginning on Saturday afternoon and continuing through to Sunday night.
The highest rainfall totals will be focused along the coast of Sydney, stretching all the way down to Batemans Bay, with the system remaining just off the coast on Saturday as well as Sunday.
Ms Neuman said the trough will cause “widespread and heavy rainfall, with the highest rainfall totals focused along the coastline”.
The system is set to plague the state for the entire weekend, with widespread showers targeting central NSW, as well as the coast, set to reach their peak on Sunday night.
Residents should expect the rainfall to last until at least Monday morning, with Ms Neuman saying the the low pressure system would then “begin to push further away from the coastline, taking the rainfall with it”.
Areas around Dubbo, Orange and Canberra should expect to see widespread rainfall of about 50mm, with 75mm predicted for Coffs Harbour down to Batemans Bay.
The highest rainfall totals will be along the NSW coastline stretching from Newcastle to Wollongong, with a total of 100 mm estimated to fall by the end of the weekend.
Victorian residents are also set to shiver, with cooler air causing temperatures on Saturday to drop from the mid 20s to the teens.
Read on to see what Sky News’ Meteorologists have forecast for the nation’s capital cities.
Sydney
Sydney is set for a partly cloudy day and a top of 25 degrees on Saturday, with a 90 per cent chance of showers and thunderstorms expected in the early and late afternoon.
Fog will also envelop the city in the early hours of the morning.
Melbourne
Melbourne will see a high of 19 degrees, with showers expected in the mid-morning.
However, clouds will clear by the late afternoon, giving residents a much-needed reprieve from the damp conditions.
Brisbane
Brisbane residents should expect overcast conditions on Saturday, with a maximum temperature of 27 degrees.
There will be a medium chance of light showers in the morning and afternoon, with moderate winds also predicted.
Canberra
Those in the nation’s capital should expect showers in the late afternoon and early evening, with a maximum temperature of 23 degrees forecasted.
There will also be a medium chance of fog in the early hours of the morning and clouds will stick around for much of the day.
Adelaide
Adelaide should expect fine and pleasant conditions, with temperatures reaching a maximum of 23 degrees.
However, showers are moving in from the coastline on Monday, with rainfall finally scheduled for the drought-stricken state.
Scattered showers will make their way through Port Lincoln all the way down to Mount Gambier – both for Monday and Tuesday.
Perth
Perth is set for a fine weekend, with little to no rain expected.
Saturday will be mostly cloudy and a temperate 22 degrees, with Sunday mostly sunny and reaching a high of 23 degrees.
Hobart
Those across the Tasman are set for a drizzly weekend, with a shower or two expected for Saturday and Sunday.
Temperatures will reach a maximum of 19 degrees on both days.
Darwin
Residents in the top end are set for showers and thunderstorms for the remainder of the weekend.
Saturday will see partly cloudy conditions, with a maximum temperature of 32, while will Sunday hit 31 with chances of storms increasing.
