A dramatic transcontinental weather shift is under way as the storm system battering the eastern states moves offshore, leaving Western Australia bracing for a violent cold front.
While the east coast finally welcomes a dry and settled weekend after days of torrential downpours and flash flooding, a severe weather system is barrelling toward the nation’s west coast, potentially bringing destructive winds of more than 100km/h and the risk of significant river flooding.
The dramatic easing of conditions in the east comes after a massive system dumped close to 150mm of rain on parts of NSW and caused widespread disruption across Queensland.
Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Christie Johnson said cumulative totals of 70mm to 100mm had been common day in many places across South East Queensland over the last two days.
“On Thursday, rain and thunderstorms once again spread across southeast and central Queensland,” Ms Johnson said.
“Through the afternoon, the focus was around the Darling Downs where around 20 to 40 millimetres of rainfall was observed. And then in the night, storms moved over the southeast coast and parts of the Wide Bay regions where there were widespread falls of around 10 to 30 millimetres.”
As that system tracked south, it delivered intense rainfall to the NSW Hunter and Mid-North Coast regions, with Comboyne recording 126mm, Mount Barrington receiving 117mm, and Careys Peak recording a massive 148mm in the 24 hours to 9am on Friday.
While minor flood watches remain for coastal NSW rivers, Ms Johnson confirmed the worst had passed for the east.
“The surface trough and low responsible for this wet weather will move off the coast today and rain and storms will ease to showers,” Ms Johnson said.
“We’re expecting a much more settled and dry weekend over South East Queensland with mild temperatures. It’ll also be drier over NSW, particularly along the east coast.”
But as the sunshine returns to the east, the bureau is expected to issue severe weather warnings on the other side of the country.
Forecasters warn that the powerful front will first smash the South West Coast before surging north, with the worst of the weather expected to slam into Perth on Sunday afternoon and evening.
Damaging wind gusts of more than 100km/h are possible across the Perth metro area, threatening to bring down debris, reduce visibility, and cause dangerous driving conditions.
Bureau meteorologist Jessica Lingard said conditions would quickly deteriorate from Saturday before peaking late on Sunday.
“There is the chance of flooding on some major roads because of abnormally high tides and strong winds pushing water up the river system,” Ms Lingard said.
Authorities are already closely monitoring low-lying locations for inundation, particularly along Riverside Drive and the Kwinana Freeway near Como, where the freeway runs parallel to the rising Swan River.
The severe system is also expected to cause chaos for thousands of AFL fans heading to Optus Stadium on Sunday night for the West Coast Eagles’ clash against Essendon, with supporters being urged to rug up and allow extra travel time.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services and the bureau are urging West Australian residents to secure loose outdoor items, avoid unnecessary travel during the height of the storm, and monitor the latest updates.
Conditions in the west are not expected to ease until Monday morning.
For emergency assistance during these weather events, residents nationwide can call the SES on 132 500, or triple-0 in life-threatening situations.
