Get ready for a soaking—Australia’s east coast is bracing for a weekend of relentless rain and storms, and it’s raising some serious questions about our changing climate. But here’s where it gets controversial: Is this just another wet weekend, or a stark reminder of the extreme weather patterns we’re increasingly facing?
Parts of New South Wales (NSW) have already been drenched, with some areas along the south coast recording over 100mm of rainfall. And it’s not letting up—forecasters predict more heavy rain and storms will sweep across the state over the coming days. For instance, Moruya and Bodalla saw overnight falls of 146mm and 136mm, respectively, on Friday, with the weather system marching northward on Saturday. And this is the part most people miss: These aren’t just random showers—they’re part of a larger pattern that’s becoming all too familiar.
According to Dean Narramore, a senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, regions like the Illawarra, Sydney, Central Coast, and Hunter can expect showers and thunderstorms that could easily dump 30-50mm of rain, with isolated areas seeing up to 100mm. Parramatta got a taste of this on Saturday morning, with 35mm falling in just half an hour. Narramore warns, ‘We’re going to continue seeing these intense storms today, with heavy falls persisting in the south and spreading through major population centers.’
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has been on high alert, with 880 people already requesting assistance due to wild weather. Flash flooding hit Mona Vale and Palm Beach on Saturday afternoon, and around 750 SES volunteers were deployed to manage the fallout. Acting Assistant Commissioner Sonya Oyston urges residents to stay vigilant: ‘Many catchments are already saturated, and we’ve seen flash flooding across the coast and ranges. Don’t let your guard down—take precautions seriously.’
In the past 24 hours, SES crews have conducted flood rescues in Albion Park, Picton, and Marulan, where vehicles were trapped by sudden floods. This wet weekend follows closely on the heels of severe storms in Victoria, where Lorne and Wye River were hit with 180mm of rain in just six hours, triggering flash floods along the Great Ocean Road that damaged campgrounds and swept away vehicles and tents.
Hazardous surf warnings are in place along the east coast, from Newcastle to Batemans Bay and the Eden coast. NSW police advise staying out of the water and avoiding exposed coastal areas. Rock fishers, in particular, are warned to steer clear of ocean-facing platforms and seek shelter from the surf.
Meanwhile, Coramba, a town near Coffs Harbour, was pelted with 5-7cm hailstones on Friday, with more storms expected in the region. Narramore adds that north-east NSW, the mid-north coast, Northern Rivers, and south-east Queensland could face another round of severe storms, bringing large hail, damaging winds, and heavy rain.
While NSW braces for more wet weather on Sunday, conditions are expected to ease by Monday, with westerly winds and warmer temperatures returning later in the week. The ‘good news,’ according to Narramore, is that Victoria’s holiday regions along the Great Ocean Road are finally catching a break after severe downpours, with only isolated showers and storms forecast for the east and north-east.
However, Queensland isn’t off the hook—widespread flood warnings remain in place for inland, northern, and western areas, with severe storms expected in the south-east on Saturday and showers continuing across the east and north into Sunday. A tropical low is also set to bring heavy storms and rain to the Top End and Kimberley regions over the weekend.
Here’s the bigger question: Are these extreme weather events becoming the new normal? The climate crisis is making Australia increasingly vulnerable to such conditions. The World Meteorological Organization recently reported that 2025 marked the third consecutive year of ‘extraordinary global temperatures,’ with surface air temperatures averaging 1.48C above preindustrial levels. As we mop up from this weekend’s deluge, it’s worth asking: How prepared are we for what’s next? And what more can we do to mitigate these risks?
What’s your take? Do you think these storms are a sign of things to come, or just a particularly bad season? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s keep the conversation going.
