Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
More severe thunderstorms forecast across NYE weekend
Severe thunderstorms are expected to return to parts of eastern Australia across the weekend, including on New Year’s Eve.
December 29, 2023
New Year’s Eve could be a wet one for parts of eastern Australia, with more severe weather forecast for the weekend.
The Bureau of Meteorology says widespread showers and possibly thunderstorms are set to return to NSW and Queensland from Friday.
Northeast NSW will bear the brunt of the rain in that state, with isolated and possibly severe thunderstorms into Sunday.
Scattered showers are forecast for the remainder of the coast, with the chance of storms.
Queensland is also expected to be hit by wet weather, with isolated showers and thunderstorms forecast across much of the state on Saturday, apart from the far southwest.
Scattered to widespread showers are likely south of Mackay and east of Charleville, with the possibility of severe thunderstorms, damaging wind gusts, large hail, and heavy rain into Sunday.
Storms and flash flooding across southeast Queensland have claimed seven lives since Christmas and caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure.
Thousands of people remain without power in dangerous heatwave conditions not expected to ease until Saturday.
Wild weather has also ravaged NSW and Victoria, with three people killed by flash flooding and a falling branch on Boxing Day.