Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain on the way for multiple states

Rain and severe thunderstorms are on the way for large parts of the country with at least five days of wet weather beginning today.

Two separate low pressure troughs will produce wet and stormy weather in parts of eastern, central and southern Australia today and tomorrow.

The troughs are triggering thunderstorms over inland Queensland, the Northern Territory, northwestern South Australia and southern Western Australia.

While some of these storms could become severe, the weekend could see the intensity of these storms strengthen even further with meteorologists predicting flash flooding and damaging winds.

Troughs are also maintaining heat across northern Australia, mainly in the northwest.

A high is clearing showers from eastern NSW and is keeping much of Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia dry.

Western Australia remains on alert for fires as hot and dry conditions persist.

Here's the weather across Australia on Wednesday, October 21, 2020.

THE NATIONAL FORECAST

NSW & THE ACT

Chance of showers across the eastern half with possibly thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, warmer in the west.

Sydney will be mostly sunny, with a low of 14C and a top of 24C.

Canberra will also be mostly sunny, with a low of 9C and a top of 23C.

Victoria

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

Melbourne will be mostly sunny, with a low of 10C and a top of 19C.

There's an ongoing minor flood warning for the Kiewa River — see details here.

Tasmania

Late shower, cool in the south. Fog then sunny, cool-to-cold in the northwest. Mostly cloudy, cool in the northeast.

Hobart has a possible shower on the way, with a low of 10C and a top of 17C.

There's an ongoing flood warning along the Jordan River — see details here.

South Australia

Mostly sunny, cool-to-mild in the southeast and central. Mostly sunny, very warm in the west. Mostly cloudy, very warm-to-hot in north.

Adelaide will be mostly sunny, with a low of 12C and a top of 25C.

Western Australia

Late shower/storm, cool-to-mild in the southwest. Showers, cool-to-cold in the south. Windy, cool-to-mild in the northwest. Mostly sunny, hot in the northeast.

Perth will be mostly sunny, with a low of 14C and a top of 24C.

There's a strong wind warning for Perth Local Waters, Lancelin Coast, Perth Coast, Bunbury Geographe Coast and Leeuwin Coast.

Very hot and dry conditions combined with gusty winds have prompted severe fire danger warnings the East Pilbara Coast, East Pilbara Inland and North Interior today.

Northern Territory

Mostly sunny, very warm in the north with chance storms before more severe weather in coming days.

Mostly sunny, very warm-to-hot over the interior and south.

Darwin will be mostly sunny, with a low of 26C and a top of 34C.

This year's La Nina event has already generated the heaviest rain in three years for Uluru, with tourists capturing images of waterfalls pouring off the giant rock face.

Queensland

Mostly sunny, mild-to-warm in the east though chance showers central east. Mostly sunny, very warm in the west.

Brisbane will be mostly sunny, with a low of 16C and a top of 28C.

– Reported with Weatherzone