Australia's east coast records huge drenching, New Year forecast wet and gloomy

Sydney's wet weather has arrived and it's here to stay, with 2021 to get off to a soggy start.

A trough over the east coast is bringing showers and cooler conditions with temperatures up to 10 degrees below the December average.

Penrith, in Sydney's west, has recorded 105 millimetres since the start of the month, a huge contrast to last year with zero rainfall recorded for the whole of December.

Minor flooding is happening this morning in Terrey Hills and Mona Vale, in Sydney's north.

That heavy rain also extending up to the Sunshine State.

A man and his son were rescued when their ute became bogged in floodwaters west of Mount Isa.

Meanwhile, the Darling Downs saw a once in 50-year event overnight, with 100 millimetres falling in an hour.

Heavy rain is expected today with the region stretching from Townsville to Harvey Bay to be the hardest hit - falls are expected to climb above 100 millimetres.

Across the rest of the country, a broad trough over Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland and northeastern NSW is triggering showers and storms, whilst directing a hot airmass over western parts of WA.

A trough lingering about eastern NSW is generating rain and showers. Another trough is bringing light showers to Tasmania.

QUEENSLAND

Showers, mild-to-warm in the southeast. Heavy showers/storms, very warm in the northeast. Showers/storms, warm in the northwest. Few showers/storms, warm in the southwest.

NEW SOUTH WALES & ACT

Showers/storms, mild in the northeast. Few showers, cool-to-mild in the southeast. Mostly cloudy, very warm in the southwest. Late shower, very warm in NW.

VICTORIA

Fog then sunny, cool-to-mild in the south. Mostly cloudy, very warm in the north.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Fog then sunny, mild in the southeast. Mostly sunny, warm in central. Windy, mild-to-warm in the west and north.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Hot in southwest with chance showers/storms. Windy, warm in the south. Few showes/storms, very warm to hot in the northwest. Late shower, very warm in the northeast.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Showers/storms, warm in the NW Top End. Showers/storms, mild-to-warm in Arnhem. Mostly sunny, very warm over the interior. Sunny, very warm-to-hot in the south.

TASMANIA

Showers, mild in the southwest. Mostly sunny, warm in the southeast. Mostly sunny, cool-to-mild in the northwest. Mostly cloudy, cool in the northeast.