Summary
Highlights
The video starts with an Australian weather forecast until Sunday, December 29th. It highlights two main areas of concern: Tropical Cyclone Haley near the Kimberley in Western Australia and a large, albeit weakening, low-pressure system in Queensland. The Queensland system is over land and will dissipate into a rain and thunderstorm event. A water vapor map shows the areas with high moisture content (bright white) and dry zones (dark).
The wind map indicates weakening low pressure around Queensland and the Northern Territory, continuing to produce rain and thunderstorms. Tropical Cyclone Haley is expected to be a Category 1 or 2, weakening as it moves inland. A high-pressure system southwest of Western Australia is bringing cooler air, while another high-pressure zone in the Tasman Sea is influencing weather in Victoria and Tasmania, with a southerly airflow extending towards the Coral Sea.
On Tuesday, the low-pressure system is mostly dispersed but still causes heavy rain around Mount Isa (100-150mm) and coastal Queensland (up to 200mm offshore). Thunderstorms are expected in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions. High pressure in the south brings gusty southeasterly winds to Victoria and South Australia, and easterlies to Western Australia. Cyclone Haley is projected to stay north of Broome, bringing damaging winds and heavy rain inland, with Derby potentially receiving over 200mm by New Year's Eve, although the cyclone itself will be breaking apart.
New Year's Eve afternoon shows scattered showers in southern Tasmania and eastern Victoria, mostly around mountainous inland areas, with some thunderstorms possible in New South Wales west of Sydney and inland Queensland. Remnants of the low-pressure zone and Cyclone Haley continue to affect Derby and northern Queensland. New Year's Eve night (11 PM Eastern time) is generally dry across Australia, with isolated showers and potential thunderstorms in southeastern areas, inland Queensland, and north of Cairns. New Year's Day has a similar setup, with a few more coastal showers for Victoria and continued wet weather around Cairns, while Tasmania enjoys high pressure and improved conditions.
Towards the end of the week, heat pushes into New South Wales and southern Queensland, with gustier winds in these areas and eastern Victoria due to a low-pressure zone and high pressure near Tasmania. Severe thunderstorms are expected inland Western Australia, potentially affecting Kalgoorlie, and continued heavy rain around Mount Isa. Saturday sees the heat intensify in inland New South Wales and parts of South Australia, with coastal areas experiencing more refreshing airflows. By Sunday, the heat moves further south in Western Australia (Perth reaching mid-to-late 30s). Thunderstorms will form in inland New South Wales due to the heat and low pressure. Messy weather, including heavy rain and thunderstorms, is anticipated in central Australia (remote Northern Territory and South Australia), with potential for rain in more populated farming areas of South Australia, though this forecast is subject to change based on high-pressure movements.