East coast may be damp for New Year's Eve

The eastern capitals including Sydney may get a spot or two of rain during New Year's Eve festivities, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) says.

Senior forecaster in the BOM's national weather centre, Cameron Lethlean, says some rain is expected across the north and down along the east coast into NSW on New Year's Eve, while a cold front may trigger a shower or two in Melbourne and Hobart.

Sydney is expecting a maximum of 24C for the final day of 2014 with a shower or two that may affect the more than one million people expected to line Sydney Harbour for the city's annual fireworks spectacular.

"We'll have a trough stretching from the northwest inland of Queensland to northeast NSW, and there is also a trough stretching through inland parts of Western Australia and a broad area of low pressure across the tropics," Mr Lethlean told AAP.

"In Sydney, we might see a possible shower as the trough generates a shower or two. There will be storms with that trough, but more inland and to the north.

"In Brisbane, it's a similar story with the trough generating showers and storms but again mostly inland with a possible shower on New Year's Eve."

Southern Victoria and Tasmania are expected to be cool and possibly showery for the fireworks.

"In the south, we have a cold front stretching from the south of WA into the Southern Ocean south of the (Great Australian) Bight, and that system will approach Tasmania and possibly southern parts of Victoria during the night or in the morning on Thursday (New Year's Day).

"It's not expected to bring much in the way of weather, maybe a shower or two."

A high pressure ridge will cause the weather to fine up in Victoria and Tasmania during New Year's Day, Mr Lethlean said, while Adelaide and Canberra are expected to remain fine and warm on both days.

Revellers attending the Perth Cup at Ascot Racecourse can look forward to a picture perfect summer's day for the first day of 2015, Mr Lethlean said.

"In the west it should be fine, with cloud clearing on Wednesday night and a sunny New Year's Day and 29C for the races there."

NEW YEAR'S EVE FORECASTS

Adelaide - Partly cloudy, 27C

Brisbane - Shower or two, 33C

Canberra - Partly cloudy, 28C

Darwin - Shower or two, possible storm, 33C

Hobart - Partly cloudy, 21C

Melbourne - Mostly sunny, 24C

Perth - Cloud clearing, 30C

Sydney - Shower or two, 24C

NEW YEAR'S DAY FORECASTS

Adelaide - Mostly sunny, 33C

Brisbane - Possible shower, 30C

Canberra - Mostly sunny, 33C

Darwin - Shower or two, possible storm - 32C

Hobart - Possible shower, 20C

Melbourne - Partly cloudy, 24C

Perth - Sunny, 29C

Sydney - Possible shower, 28C

(Source: Bureau of Meteorology)