Extreme heat, tropical monsoon and powerful storms all brewing across Australia
Local youth cool down in the Nepean River as the temperature hits 36 degrees in Penrith (January 2013): Source: AAP
Heat waves, flash floods and powerful storms are about to strike simultaneously across Australia.
As the east coast prepares for a three-day window of scorching heat, weather experts are predicting 2016 could be the fifth hottest year on record.
Sydney could experience stifling temperatures in the low 40s on Thursday, according to Weatherzone, with highs in the thirties expected today and on Friday.
The spike in temperatures is part of an extreme heat wave that will last until Sunday, and be most intense across south eastern Queensland and north eastern NSW.
Melbourne's hot temperatures over the Christmas period are set to continue with 35C expected today, before severe weather - including heavy rain and damaging winds – is set to strike across much of the state on Thursday.
That moving deep low pressure system could cause the same kinds of flash flooding that hit central Australia yesterday, turning Uluru into a surreal cascading waterfall.
Last night it moved across South Australia and Adelaide, buffeting the state capital with winds of over 120km/h and heavy rainfall.
A monsoon system is developing in north Queensland, and Darwin is braced for showers and thunderstorms over the coming days.
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