Low-Pressure System to Bring Heavy Rain, Storms and Flooding Across Most of Australia This Week

The Bureau of Meteorology warned a low-pressure system will bring thunderstorms, heavy rain and flash flooding across Australia over four days, with South Australia and Victoria hit hardest.

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Industry impact

Widespread rain, flooding and river-level rises across multiple states signal potential disruption to regional airport operations and business-aviation movements through the affected corridor this week.

A low-pressure system is moving across Australia, prompting the Bureau of Meteorology to warn that millions of people face thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and flash flooding over the coming days. Senior meteorologist David Crock said the system would be the main story for about four days, currently bringing heavy rain and storms to far east Western Australia and the southern Northern Territory.

On Monday the rain band is forecast to move into South Australia, affecting most of the state including the Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula and Adelaide Hills, with 20 to 40 millimetres expected and higher totals possible into Tuesday morning; strong winds were also warned for several coastal districts. Crock noted saturated ground from recent rain, including a significant Adelaide Hills event about 10 days earlier, raises flash-flooding risk even without extreme totals.

On Tuesday the system is expected to bring 40 to 60 millimetres to southern and western New South Wales and northeastern Victoria, with flood warnings issued for the Kiewa, Loddon and Avoca catchments and an initial warning for North West, Central and North East Victoria as river levels rise between Monday and Wednesday, affecting the Upper Murray, Mitta Mitta, Kiewa, Ovens, King, Broken, Seven and Castle Creeks. By Wednesday the system is forecast to bring rain to eastern New South Wales and southern Queensland before moving south toward the Tasman Sea. Monday forecasts include Adelaide with a very high chance of rain and a top of 16°C, Melbourne with a medium shower chance and a top of 18°C, and Sydney sunny with a top of 22°C.