This week is shaping up as one of extreme weather across Australia, as floods threaten the east and the west swelters under intense heat, according to Weatherzone.
In the north of Western Australia, coastal communities will be on alert due to the potential for a tropical cyclone to form.
“Southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales are in for a prolonged deluge of rain, with the potential for widespread falls of over 200mm for areas between Bundaberg in Queensland and Port Macquarie in New South Wales by the end of the week,” said Alex Zadnik, senior meteorologist at Weatherzone.
“Some towns will see even higher rain totals in the 300-400mm range over the next six days, bringing a significant threat of both flash flooding and river flooding,” continued Mr Zadnik.
“We have a stationary high pressure system in place over the Tasman Sea, which is going to send a persistent flow of moisture-laden air into both Queensland and New South Wales. The entire lower portion of the atmosphere is going to become saturated during the first half of this week, setting the scene for torrential rainfall when a deepening low pressure trough forms along the eastern seaboard,” said Mr Zadnik.
For the west coast of Western Australia, weather conditions will be in stark contrast, with extended heat wave conditions. It is worth noting that heat waves can have the greatest toll on human life of any weather phenomena, with the very young and elderly at greatest risk.
2012. Fairfax Media