Wild weather brings thunderstorms, flash flooding to south-east Australia

The Story

Severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall have caused flash flooding, road closures and travel disruptions across south-eastern Australia. The Bureau of Meteorology reported 500,000 lightning strikes across Queensland and New South Wales. The unseasonal weather, described as more typical of summer than late autumn, is being driven by a broad low pressure trough drawing tropical moisture.

Key Facts

• Heavy rainfall accompanied by 500,000 lightning strikes across Queensland and New South Wales.
• Widespread flash flooding, road closures and travel disruptions reported.
• Tasmania was also expected to be affected on Thursday.
• Bureau of Meteorology’s Jonathan How said the storm outbreak is unusual for the last five or six days of autumn.
• Senior meteorologist Ilana Cherny said the wet weather is driven by a low pressure trough drawing “a lot of tropical moisture”.
• A low pressure system is slowly moving offshore of NSW on Friday.
• The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) warned of flash flooding risks in the mid-north coast and Upper Hunter regions from early Thursday evening.
• Daily rainfall totals of 20-40mm are likely, with isolated falls up to 100mm possible.
• Minor flooding possible along the Orara, Manning, Gloucester, Bellinger, Hastings, Paterson, William and Hunter Rivers.
• NSW SES assistant commissioner Colin Malone said flash flooding can happen quickly without much warning.
• The Bureau issued a graziers warning for the Hunter and northern tablelands districts due to cold temperatures, heavy rain and winds.
• NRMA roadside assistance employees in Canberra, Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong began a 24-hour strike over pay and conditions.
• Brisbane recorded 43mm of rain by 8:30am Thursday after severe weather Wednesday.
• Highest rainfall in Queensland: 88mm at Tindarra near Roma (24 hours to 7am Thursday).
• Bureau cancelled severe thunderstorm warning in south-east Queensland after 4pm Thursday.
• In Tasmania, flood warnings for St Pauls River and South Esk River; Gray recorded 251mm.
• Rainfall expected to ease over the weekend, but hazardous surf possible along the east coast.
• BoM long-range forecast: late autumn rain may ease dry conditions, but rainfall likely below average over winter.
• Climatologist David Wilson said many sites had highest May temperatures on record, including Hobart’s 26.9C on 1 May.
• The article states the climate crisis is making Australia more vulnerable to extreme weather and intense rainfall.

Conflicting Reports

No conflicting reports identified in the source article.

Still Unclear

No open questions identified in the source article.

Misconceptions

No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.

Key Figures

• Jonathan How, Bureau of Meteorology
• Ilana Cherny, Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist
• Colin Malone, NSW State Emergency Service assistant commissioner
• David Wilson, Bureau of Meteorology climatologist
• A representative for the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (not named in source)

Sources: The Guardian