The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued storm warnings for Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane as a powerful cold front moves across eastern Australia. The system is expected to bring hail, damaging winds and possible flash flooding to Victoria, New South Wales (NSW) and parts of Queensland through Sunday.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast to hit Melbourne and eastern Victoria during Saturday afternoon, as the cold front meets warm, humid air. The BoM warns of winds exceeding 125 km/h that could topple trees and damage property. Melbourne and surrounding areas have already seen moderate rainfall and lightning on Saturday morning, with a more intense band of storms predicted for the afternoon.
“It’s this follow‑up band of storms which could pack a punch,” BoM meteorologist Angus Hines said. He added that the risk area will extend north through inland NSW into the evening, reaching southern Queensland’s interior and the NSW coast south of Sydney, including Wollongong and the Illawarra.
In addition to Melbourne, the forecast covers Gippsland, the north‑eastern ranges, and north‑central Victoria. The BoM highlights that the greatest risk of damaging winds lies in these regions. Hines noted that “expecting some very active storms here a little bit later on in the day, mid to late afternoon for many of these areas, and potentially not until the evening hours by the time we’re looking at storms getting out towards the east coast.”
Sunday’s focus shifts further north, with heavy rain and storms expected around Brisbane during the afternoon and early evening. Severe thunderstorms are most likely for parts of the NSW mid‑north coast, the northern rivers, parts of the tablelands and the Hunter region. These areas face possible hail, heavy rainfall, flash flooding and destructive winds over 125 km/h.
Areas that have experienced heightened rainfall in the past fortnight are also at risk of flash flooding, Hines warned. He urged residents in affected zones to monitor radar for any large storms heading their way. “If you do live through this area, 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,” he said.
The BoM’s storm warnings cover a broad area from Newcastle, north of Sydney, through to the southern interior of Queensland. Residents are advised to stay indoors during peak storm activity, secure loose outdoor items, and keep emergency supplies ready in case of sudden flooding or wind damage.
Source: The Guardian World
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