Storms in the south-east, a drenching for the Top End and showers for the cricket

South-east Australia is expecting storms today and tomorrow, the Top End is set for a drenching from the remains of ex-cyclone Tiffany, and it might be a bit wet for the start of the Hobart Test tomorrow.

After pretty severe storms in South Australia yesterday, the threat is moving into western Victoria, according to the Bureau of Meteorology’s Dean Narramore.

He said the state’s west could expect widespread storms.

“We could even see a few thunderstorms produce very dangerous flooding, and also destructive winds and giant hail,” Mr Narramore said. 

“So definitely watch out for that.”

By Friday, the storm threat is expected to move to central Victoria, including Melbourne — but are not expected to be quite as severe as today.

On Saturday, the threat will then move across and up into eastern parts of Victoria and New South Wales.  

This latest round of storms is being triggered by a surface trough extending down through western Queensland and into eastern South Australia. 

“To the east of that is a very humid and unstable air coming in off of Coral and Tasman seas, which is bringing those really moist and humid conditions we’ve had pretty much all summer through NSW and Queensland,” Mr Narramore said. 

“That’s driving these thunderstorms we are expecting today.” 

Ex-tropical cyclone Tiffany 

Cyclone Tiffany crossed the coast again yesterday and is now an ex-tropical cyclone moving across the base of the Top End.

According to Mr Narramore the system is expected to keep moving west and will reach the Kimberley by tonight and into tomorrow. 

“Severe weather warnings are current for heavy rainfall and damaging winds,” he said. 

“We could see daily totals of 50 to 150 millimetres, and maybe even some isolated totals up to 200mm in the coming days.”

Hot in the north-west

Over the weekend Tiffany’s decaying remains are expected to slowly move down along the WA/NT border.

Where they could bring some welcome relief after some scorching temperatures. 

Extreme to severe heatwave conditions are expected not only for the Kimberley but also the Pilbara and much of the inland. 

Exmouth and Port Hedland are forecast to reach 47 degrees Celsius today and according to Mr Narramore some locations could break records for this time of year. 

“We have extreme to catastrophic fire dangers for large parts of inland WA today.

“Thankfully, not around the Perth or the Capes where we had those emergency fires a couple of days ago, but definitely for areas further north and to the east of Perth.”

Showers for the cricket 

Clouds are also expected over Hobart as the final Ashes Test gets underway tomorrow.

“It’s basically some hit and miss showers around,” Mr Narramore said.

“Probably more common in the afternoon and evenings but definitely they could be around anytime.” 

There is even the chance of a thunderstorm on Saturday, but Mr Narramore said that storms should be pretty isolated. 

“It should be OK for most days.

“We just could see some slight interruptions here and there with those showers passing through.”