Residents in Western Australia are in for a wild and wet weekend as a tropical cyclone threatens to pass over the coast, while northern NSW and southern Queensland brace for another barrage of wild winds, severe thunderstorms and lashings of rain.
Blistering winds and heavy rain are set to hit the Pilbara and Kimberley Region over the weekend, with meteorologists certain the tropical cyclone would pass over the area as early as Sunday.
The Bureau of Meteorology said a weak tropical 10U cyclone began passing over the waters to the north of the Pilbara coast, but was weakened by another, stronger 11U tropical cyclone, which started forming near the western Kimberley Region.
A tropical cyclone is threatening to hit Western Australia, bringing wild weather, heavy rain and battering winds along with it. Picture: Windy
While the initial tropical cyclone is set to disappear by Saturday, the bureau said there was a 70 per cent chance the 11U would develop into a tropical cyclone.
“There is a chance that gales may develop in offshore waters from the Pilbara coast as 11U intensifies during Sunday,” a statement from the bureau read.
“We’re not there yet,” a Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson told NewsWire.
However, as the cyclone tracks closer to land, the bureau said it “might be close enough to cause impact on the coastal areas”.
The cyclone could become so intense it may be classified as a category 3 severe tropical cyclone, bringing damaging winds exceeding 200km/h.
A tropical cyclone is threatening to hit Western Australia, bringing wild weather, heavy rain and battering winds along with it. Picture: Weatherzone
Even if the cyclone fails to develop and hit the coast, the bureau warned of dangerously strong winds and a barrage of rain still likely to impact the north-west coast, smashing.
Strong showers and winds are expected in the Pilbara region on Friday, with a possible thunderstorm in the afternoon.
Residents in Western Australia are urged to track the cyclone’s development and any emerging warnings n the BOM website.
Wild weather hit Sydney and the Hunter Region on Wednesday afternoon, wreaking havoc on parts of the state. Photo by Roni Bintang/Getty Images
More than 33,000 homes and businesses remain impacted by blackouts across Sydney and parts of NSW after severe thunderstorms and intense rainfall affected millions of residents on Wednesday and Thursday.
The storm continued to smash the state, with pockets of northern NSW hit by enormous hailstones and damaging winds.
Widespread rainfall of 25-50mm was recorded in The Central Coast to the northern regions, with Crawford recording a high of 100mm rainfall in the span of 24 hours.
Giant, baseball-sized hailstones have reportedly fallen at Stanthorpe Wednesday afternoon in a severe storm. Picture: Linda Lennon
Enormous hailstones will continue falling in northern NSW. Picture: Supplied
While the brunt of the storm has since moved out to sea, a low pressure system has developed in the northern Hunter and southern Mid-North regions, which will bring plenty of heavy rain and further dangerous conditions on Friday before moving upwards towards Queensland into the weekend.
“Plenty of wet weather to come,” Sky News meteorologist Rob Sharpe said.
The bureau has issued a coastal hazard warning spanning from the Illawarra to the Mid North Coast, with heavy rainfall, damaging winds and large waves potentially leading to localised damage and coastal erosion at exposed locations.
Overnight, an intense downpour and damaging winds caused trees to collapse, blocking roads and bringing down power lines.
Approximately 20,000 residents were left without power on Thursday afternoon, with Energex recording more than 216,000 lightning strikes as the storm passed through the southeast.
More rain is on the way. Picture: 7News
Sydney residents can expect more rain on Friday, with cloudy skies and strong, damaging winds along the coastal fringe and a top of 24C.
It will be a sunny morning for Brisbane, with a medium chance of showers and a thunderstorm developing in the afternoon and evening, reaching a top of 31C.
There is a slight chance of showers for Melbourne on Friday morning, with skies clearing for a sunny afternoon, and a maximum temperature of 23C.
Adelaide will be sunny with light winds becoming west to south-westerly and a top of 31C.
It will be a wet and windy morning for Perth, with a very high chance of showers and a thunderstorm in the morning before clearing in the afternoon and reaching a top of 27C.
Residents in Hobart can expect a partly cloudy day and a maximum temperature of 20C.
It will be a sunny day for Canberra, with a top of 24C.
Darwin will be hot and cloudy with a high chance of showers and a thunderstorm, reaching a to of 31C.