Starting off first with the national picture and plenty of rain and storms across Western Australia with a number of surface troughs and low pressure system over the state. That area of rain and storms will gradually expand into Central Australia through the day and some areas could see pockets of heavy rainfall as well as damaging winds.
In the east, storms continue for much of Queensland from the afternoon, getting down into Northeast and Eastern New South Wales through the day, but storms along the east coast won't be quite as impactful nor widespread as compared to Wednesday. Otherwise, we do have a high pressure system over the Bight and another over the Tasman Sea, thus keeping Southeast Australia mostly dry with just some cooler southerly winds keeping a lid on temperatures right along the southern coastline.
So now a state-by-state look, starting off with Queensland and the severe to extreme heatwave continues across the far north. Maximum temperatures pushing up into the high 30s and in some areas even up to 40 °C. From the afternoon though, showers and storms will develop along a surface trough all the way from the northwest through inland parts and down into the southeast. Thunderstorms could turn severe across south-east Queensland from about Wide Bay down towards the Gold Coast inland towards Toowoomba with the risk of heavy rainfall, damaging winds as well as large hail. Otherwise, looking like quite a hot day across the state, maximum temperatures slightly above average for this time of year. For Brisbane, possible shower or severe thunderstorm, top of 31 °C and partly cloudy up in Cairns with a maximum of 32 °C.
Now down to New South Wales, we could see some patchy fog in the southeast of the state, a little bit of low cloud along the coast with isolated showers, but from the afternoon thunderstorms will develop across the northeast and down towards the Central Ranges as far south as about Canberra. Otherwise, we are expecting to see a mostly dry and hot day inland with maximum temperatures up to 8 °C above average. For Sydney, partly cloudy, slight chance of a shower in the morning, top of 24 °C. Mostly sunny in Canberra with a maximum of 27 °C.
Now in Victoria, we will see a bit of bit of patchy cloud in the morning and some fog mostly about Gippsland, but that will to a mostly sunny day across the state. Cooler slightly winds keeping temperatures in the high teens, low twenties in the south, but warmer north of the divide reaching the low thirties along the Murray. Melbourne a little bit of cloud in the morning, but then a mostly sunny day going for a top of 21 °C. Warm for Mildura going for 33 °C.
Now down to Tasmania. With that ridge of high pressure over the state, it will keep things mostly dry. Still a bit of cloud and maybe an isolated shower in the southwest during the morning that will clear to a mostly sunny and mild day. Hobart partly cloudy 23 °C and reaching 26 °C in Launceston which is well above average for this time of year.
Now up to South Australia. We'll see rain and storms in the west of the state, possibly with heavy rainfall and damaging winds about the far northwest corner. Those storms will gradually extend eastwards through the day reaching the western air peninsula from the evening, but those showers and storms will gradually start to fizzle out as they move further towards the east. Back to temperatures a little bit on the milder side under that thick cloud cover in the west, but warm and mostly sunny day to follow in the east. Adelaide we are expecting 26 °C, but a bit of cloud building as we head towards the evening and remaining quite hot 37 °C up in Moomba.
Now across to Western Australia, showers and rain and thunderstorms through southern and eastern parts of the state with that low pressure system and trough. Rain and storms gradually push off the coast through the day and by nighttime will gradually clear away from the state completely, but a few showers lingering about the south coast with cooler southern winds moving up towards places like Albany. A little bit of cloud across the wheat belt that will clear through the day, but further towards the west coast and Perth we are expecting a warm and sunny day. So for Perth a sunny top of 27 °C and unsettled and hot conditions continuing across the Gascoyne and the Pilbara.
Finally for northern Australia, plenty of showers and thunderstorms yet again. They could turn severe across the far southwest of the territory with possible damaging winds as well as heavy rainfall and showers and storms continuing across the top end and also through the Kimberley. So for Darwin, possible shower storm 35 °C, unsettled and stormy for Alice Springs with a maximum of 31 °C.
That's your forecast for today. Check up with the latest forecast and warning through the day on our website and app.
