The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that the severe weather may cause power outages, road flooding, and extensive damage in both regional and coastal areas.
A large storm system spanning from northern Western Australia to western Victoria, along with a secondary system reaching into southern Queensland, is predicted to bring intense rainfall, hail, and damaging winds.
According to Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) senior forecaster Miriam Bradbury, the severe weather threat is expected to develop on Saturday evening as a cold front moves across the country from west to east.
“Thunderstorms could occur across a wide central area of Australia, stretching from the Kimberley down to Victoria,” Bradbury said.
“We could also see some thunderstorms forming along parts of the central Queensland coast,” Bradbury said.
Severe storms bringing powerful winds, large hail, and flash flooding are expected to impact South Australia’s northwest pastoral and west coast regions on Sunday. Similar dangerous conditions are also likely to develop later in the day across central and northern Victoria and into the NSW Riverina.
Further north, Bradbury cautioned that Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, and the Gold Coast could experience intense weather.
“All of these areas may see severe thunderstorms, although the greatest risk is slightly inland from the coast,” she explained.
“It’s definitely wise to keep an eye on the radar and weather warnings tomorrow, given how many populated regions are at risk of severe storms.”
Bradbury added that where the storms hit, residents could face property damage, fallen trees and power lines, and road closures or detours due to flooding or debris.
Wet conditions are expected to persist along much of eastern Queensland next week as a low-pressure trough continues to draw in coastal moisture.
Tuesday is expected to bring the heaviest rainfall.