Christmas Day weather: Storms and rain forecast for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra
Tens of thousands of Australians were left without power on Christmas Eve as severe weather battered the east coast with more rain on the way.
Heavy rain on Sunday in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland led to flight cancellations, road closures due to flash flooding and hundreds of calls for help.
Shocking footage shows cars stuck in floodwaters in Sydney’s east, while hail the size of golf balls hit far north NSW and Queensland.
Meteorologists have warned the bad weather will continue until Christmas and Boxing Day, with showers and thunderstorms on the east coast horizon.
There is a high chance of showers in Sydney on Monday, with between 2 and 20mm of rain forecast.
One vehicle stuck at Anzac Parade in Kensington had to be freed by emergency services on Sunday (pictured)
Temperatures in the port city will reach 27°C on Christmas Day.
Melbourne residents are also in for a wet Christmas with a 100 per cent chance of rain.
Between 9mm and 40mm is expected to fall on Victoria’s capital as families open their gifts. The maximum temperature is expected to be 23 degrees.
Canberra is also in the line of fire, with a heavy band of rain of up to 50mm expected on Monday.
Wet and stormy weather is also expected in Brisbane on Monday and Boxing Day.
Flights in and out of Sydney Airport were hit by thunderstorms on Sunday after 110mm fell in about an hour, causing flash flooding at the domestic terminal (pictured)
Queenslanders will enjoy warm weather, with temperatures reaching 33C in the capital over Christmas.
Angus Hynes from the Bureau of Meteorology said the wet weather would continue for several days, including the threat of more severe thunderstorms.
“There is potential in the atmosphere right now for these kinds of severe storms,” he said.
“Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne have a chance of thunderstorms or possibly even severe storms. There is a risk of thundery weather in all these capitals over Christmas,” he said.
NSW SES Acting Assistant Commissioner Allison Flaxman said flood crews were deployed and ready to go in the coming days.
“It is important that people assess the conditions of not only their route but also their destination before traveling and avoid camping in low-lying areas,” she said.
Flash flooding was reported in parts of Sydney. Photo: Twitter/Wolkaholic
“If you encounter a flooded road, please turn around and find an alternative route. Never drive through flood water.”
Early on Monday morning, the BOM issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the NSW Riverina region, in the southwest of the state.
Areas affected include Deniliquin, Griffith, Hay, Narrandera, Hillston and Darlington Point.
“Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding in the warning area over the next few hours,” the bureau said.
Victoria’s central north was also warned of heavy rain and severe thunderstorms over Christmas.
Pictured is hail that fell on Sunday at Burpengary, Moreton Bay in Queensland.
Bendigo, Shepparton, Seymour, Maryborough, Kyneton and Wangaratta are in the line of fire, with flash flooding possible.
There are several active flood warnings in place across Queensland, including the Burnett River in central Queensland, the Parro River in the west and the Lower Barcoo River.
In the Sunshine State, more than 58,000 Energex customers were without power due to severe weather on Christmas Eve.
As of 7 a.m. Monday, more than 1,200 homes were still out of service.
More than 17,000 people were without power in Victoria on Sunday.
Sunday brought the worst weather yet, with roads in Sydney’s east completely flooded.
As buses moved between terminals, the asphalt at Sydney International Airport was flooded with water, and water also entered the baggage claim area.
In just an hour and a half, 64 mm of rain fell at the airport. Little Bay, in the east of the city, was hit by a 56mm shell in just one hour.
About 10 flights were canceled on Christmas Eve and another 12 domestic flights were canceled on Monday, according to the airport’s website.
NSW Emergency Services responded to more than 200 incidents in just three hours on Sunday, including 21 flood rescues, for a total of 492 calls for help on Sunday.
“We are not yet out of crisis, with moderate to locally high rainfall possible on the south coast on Christmas Day (Monday),” the NSW SES said.
“Severe storms could bring localized heavy rainfall, which could lead to flash flooding, large hail and damaging winds.”