Multiple states set for a drenching after dry winter start

After a dry start to winter, millions of people across the country are in for a wet few weeks.

Weatherzone reports that two large rainbands will move over Australia next week, bringing widespread rain to multiple eastern states.

The pair of low-pressure systems will move towards Australia’s south next week, bringing moisture-laden air over the country and providing the perfect storm for extra rain.

The system is forecast to bring showers across half of Australia’s south and along the east coast until next week.

However, the heaviest rainfall is expected in Australia’s southeast inland, particularly within the Murray-Darling Basin, where rainfall could total 50mm-100mm over the next week.

It is forecast that the rain will mostly affect a broad area of Victoria, NSW and Queensland’s south-west.

Despite the looming rain, many forecast models are still predicting below-average rain across Australia this winter due to a strong El Nino in the tropical Pacific Ocean.

The El Nino weather system means that millions of Australians are in for a warmer, drier winter and spring.

Read more

El Nino declared – here's what it means for Australia’s forecast

The changing conditions could spark earlier bushfires and heatwaves, while threatening water storage, farming yields, and snow depths.

Australians are being warned to brace for a potentially powerful climate cycle, with forecasters tracking an event likely to stick around well into the second half of 2026.

While it does not guarantee drought or extreme weather, the disruptive weather pattern can increase the odds of those conditions.