Bureau of Meteorology issues severe storm warnings for NSW, Victoria

Millions of Aussies will be in the path of severe thunderstorms across the weekend, with some areas forecast to experience wind gusts of up to 100km/h.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe thunderstorm warnings for large parts of the country.

In NSW, people in parts of the Illawarra, Southern Tablelands, Lower Western, South Coast and Upper Western forecast districts should be aware of potential severe thunderstorm on Friday and Saturday.

A severe weather warning is also in place for the South West Slopes and parts of the Southern Tablelands, Riverina and Snowy Mountains.

Meanwhile, in Victoria, a severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of East Gippsland, North East and West and South Gippsland forecast districts.

Thunderstorms with heavy rainfall are likely over eastern Victoria across Friday.

Bureau meteorologist Angus Hines said storms were set to become much more extensive across the southeast of the county on Friday.

“Severe thunderstorms can generate areas of heavy rain, which may lead to flash flooding and they can generate more damaging wind gusts much like what we saw overnight,” he said.

“The broad region covers a lot of NSW, not quite all the way to the coast, so it doesn’t include Sydney.

“Also, much of central and western Victoria, including the far northern outskirts of Melbourne and much of southern and central South Australia, including the inland suburbs of Adelaide as well.

“Thunderstorms will also continue today across the tropical north and central areas, but the severe thunderstorm risk looks less likely in northern Australia.”

The bureau forecasts wind gusts could be more than 90km/h around the western slopes and plains of NSW and just across the border into the far northeastern mountains of Victoria.

Mr Hines said wind gusts could reach more than 100km/h in those alpine areas, and rainfall totals forecast of between 40mm and 60mm are forecast, with isolated areas set to receive 80mm or above.

“With those types of conditions in these areas we could see damage to loose structures like fences and outhouses,” Mr Hines said.

“We could see some flash flooding with that heavier rainfall coming in, partially overnight and into tomorrow.

“And the combination of strong wind and heavy rain certainly could bring trees down over property, could spill over roads or maybe lead to power outages.”

The storms aren’t likely to subside overnight, with many people expected to feel the brunt of the deluge on Saturday.

“We’ll see some clearer weather coming for the second half of the weekend, although we will see the redevelopment of storms in the centre in the north and Central Australia,” he said.

“Rainfall-wise, we’ve got a couple of spots we’re watching carefully for potential accumulations over the next 48 hours.

“The two spots, which are in our higher end 50mm plus, are firstly around these northern areas up in the tropics … could definitely see rainfall totals between 50 and 100mm here over the next couple of days.

“There’s a secondary bullseye of heavy rain down here in NSW which is a bit more unusual to occur at this time of year.”

Sydney is forecast to hit a top of 29C on Friday and 32C on Saturday.

Temperatures remain high in Melbourne with a top of 32C forecast for Friday, while Saturday will reach 27C.

In Brisbane, temperatures will be around 29C to 30C on Friday and Saturday.

Adelaide temperatures will hit 33C on Friday and 28C on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Perth, will remain sunny with a top of 29C on Friday and 33C on Saturday.