Multiple Australian states are set to experience flash flooding on Thursday, with severe weather warnings issued for New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania. Because when you've been dry for ages, you don't just get a sip - you get a firehose.
Ilana Cherny, a senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, explained that the wet weather battering eastern Australia is being driven by a broad low-pressure trough that has drawn in "a lot of tropical moisture across the region." In the midst of that trough, a low pressure system is developing and will slowly move offshore of New South Wales during Friday.
Heavy rainfall, with the potential to cause flash flooding, is forecast for parts of the NSW mid-north coast, the upper Hunter, and adjacent districts from Thursday afternoon. The Bureau has also issued a flood watch for the Hunter and parts of the mid-north coast, with possible minor flooding.
Meanwhile, NRMA roadside assistance employees in Canberra, Sydney, Newcastle, and Wollongong began a 24-hour strike over pay and conditions, expected to end at midnight. Nothing says "help is on the way" like a chorus of picket signs.
Heavy rainfall is also forecast for southern and south-east parts of Queensland, including the Darling Downs, Wide Bay, and Burnett regions. "Severe thunderstorms are also possible through to the Brisbane area and the south-east coast," Cherny said, adding there is a risk of damaging wind gusts and large hail. Brisbane recorded 43mm of rain by 8.30am on Thursday, following severe weather on Wednesday that temporarily cut access to many roads.
In Queensland's parched southern interior and Darling Downs, significant rainfall totals have been recorded. The highest total in the 24 hours to 7am on Thursday was 88mm at Tindarra on Bungil Creek, near Roma in the state's central west. More rain is expected - good news for farmers, less so for anyone who forgot to fix their roof.
In Tasmania, flood warnings are in place for the St Paul's River and the South Esk River. Eastern parts of the state saw rainfall totals over 100mm, with 251mm recorded at Gray. The rainfall is expected to ease over the weekend as the low pressure system moves offshore, but "we could see some hazardous surf redeveloping up the east coast," Cherny said.
As a reminder, the climate crisis is making Australia more vulnerable to extreme weather and natural disasters, including intense rainfall. For each 1°C of warming, the atmosphere can hold 7% more moisture. And since raindrops release energy as they form, the rainfall intensities can be even greater. So yes, the sky's getting heavier, and we're all just standing under it.