‘Scarier’: Warning as millions brace for severe thunderstorms, scorching heat

Wild weather is set to lash millions as Aussies are warned a “scarier” forecast is anticipated to hit later in the weekend.Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Angus Hines warned Aussies to brace for “a few rounds” of wild weather, with severe storms and scorching heat set to slam the east coast.

“We have ongoing heatwaves through parts of the east and a widespread risk of thunderstorms, including a significant chance of severe thunderstorms both today and even more so on Sunday,” he said.

Severe thunderstorms could hit New South Wales, parts of South Australia and southeast Queensland overnight.

Mr Hines said storms are classified as severe if they bring damaging wind gusts, heavy rain that can lead to flooding, or large hailstones.

“For today we actually see the risk of any of those with thunderstorms through the region,” he said.

“It’s spotty, hit and miss and it won’t hit everyone but we’ve got that risk across northeast Victoria, southern and central parts of the NSW coast from Sydney down to Bega, as well as most of Canberra, the Riverina and out into parts of the lower west.”

A secondary severe thunderstorm zone stretches from Port Macquarie up to Byron Bay and the Northern Tablelands.

The warning extends into Sunday.

“Expect the rain to be much more widespread, hitting large parts of southern and southeastern Australia,” Mr Hines said.

“The weather map looks a little scarier for Sunday. We’ve got a more widespread risk of severe thunderstorms and we’ve also got this red area introduced onto the map where severe thunderstorms are likely.”

Before the storms hit on Sunday, locals across Sydney, Queensland and South Australia will swelter through unusually high overnight temperatures.

Large hail, damaging wind

Forecasters earlier warned of large hailstones, damaging wind gusts and extreme heatwave conditions.

Australians should brace for “very dangerous” driving conditions, caused by heavy rainfall, large hailstones, “damaging wind gusts” and even flash flooding according to Sky News meteorologist Tamsin Green.

Those who have left their Christmas shopping until now have been warned to take care during what could be a hectic weekend of weather.

This weekend’s storms are expected to hit Canberra and Darwin first on Saturday before extending to Sydney and Melbourne and peaking on Sunday, Ms Green predicts.

The storm risk peaks on Sunday, the Bureau of Meterology said, with severe storms feared for parts of southeast New South Wales and northeast Victoria, leading to a risk of heavy rainfall, large hailstones and damaging wind gusts.

There are also warnings about the heat, with low to severe intensity heatwaves expected into Monday.

Sydney will be sunny on Saturday and reach 31C, Melbourne will also be sunny and reach 22C, Brisbane will be sunny and 32C, Perth and Adelaide sunny and 28C, and Hobart sunny and 25C.

There will be storms for Canberra and a high of 33C and similar conditions in Darwin.

On Sunday, Sydney, Darwin and Brisbane will top out at 33C on Sunday, Canberra 30C, Perth 29C, Adelaide 24C, meanwhile Hobart and Melbourne will reach 22C.