Millions to cop drenching as rain band stretches across every state

South Australia will be plagued by rain as severe weather conditions affect nearly every state across the country this week.

Winter has well and truly set in as a band of rain slowly spreads across the country, stretching from parts of Western Australia to the coast of NSW.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Ilana Cherny said South Australia would ease the brunt of the wet weather as the group cruised through the center of the country.

“There’s a pretty moisture-rich cloud band and cold front moving through South Australia today in particular,” he told NewsWire.

As a low passed over the Great Australian Bite, the cold front also spread across western parts of South Australia.

A severe weather warning has been issued for the Lower Eyre Peninsula, East Eyre Peninsula and parts of the West Coast and North West Pastoral, with heavy rainfall expected for the latter two.

“An area similar to the northwestward flow of this front is experiencing increased humidity and precipitation, so heavy rains can lead to flash flooding,” Ms Cherny told NewsWire.

Six-hour total rainfall is expected to be between 30 and 45 mm, with local drops of up to 60 mm in some areas.

Affected areas include Port Lincoln, Wudinna, Cleve, Elliston, Tarcoola and Streaky Bay, with residents warned not to drive or walk in flooded areas.

The rain is expected to subside again by Wednesday evening.

But this rain band won’t let up; Instead it will shift eastwards towards Victoria, Tasmania and parts of NSW.

“This rain band and front are slow moving, but are slowly moving east,” Ms. Cherny said.

“We expect wet and rainy weather to move into Victoria (on Thursday).”

Following “quite a bit of rain” on Tuesday, rain will hit north-west Tasmania on Wednesday.

Although wet weather prevails in the southern half of Australia, this does not mean that other states are clear.

“We will then start to see increased rainfall over the next few days across inland NSW, Queensland and even into parts of the Northern Territory, which I think is quite unseasonal for this time of year,” Ms Cherny said.

On the other side of the country, residents in parts of Western Australia have been issued a severe weather warning as high winds and heavy rains batter the south-east coast.

A strong onshore flow driven by a low pressure system drifted between Esperance and the Gulf of Israel.

Average wind speeds are expected to reach between 65-70 km/h, but the bureau warns that gusts of 100 km/h are possible in coastal areas, particularly affecting Esperance, Israelite Bay and Salmon Gums.

There is also a threat of heavy rainfall for coastal and inland parts of the south-eastern coastal region, with six-hour fall totals averaging between 30 and 45 mm.

“The combination of wet and windy conditions could knock down trees and power lines and cause some minor residential infrastructure damage,” Ms. Cherny said.

June record

Despite the high winds and heavy rains that have lashed the country this week, Ms Cherny said temperatures were “very warm” for this time of year.

“We’re seeing very warm June temperatures in the eastern half of Australia,” he said.

Sydney has experienced many hot days with temperatures above 20C for 10 days in a row.

“This has never happened before in June,” he said.

Ms Cherny said the last time the city recorded more than nine days of temperatures above 20C in June was in 1919.

“Not only do we expect to break the record, but we also have a forecast for four more days (this week) of temperatures going above 20C,” he said.

“We will likely see that record go from nine days 100 years ago to 14 consecutive days this June.”

Looking at Wednesday’s weather forecast, Brisbane residents can expect a partly cloudy day with light showers and temperatures of 23C.

Skies will be partly cloudy in Sydney but there is no chance of rain as temperatures reach 22C.

Meanwhile, Canberra will be mostly cloudy on Wednesday with a maximum temperature of 18C.

Melbourne residents can expect a cloudy, slightly rainy day with low chances of rain and temperatures reaching a high of 20C.

There will be plenty of light rain in Hobart on Wednesday, with temperatures reaching a maximum of 16C.

Adelaide will be wet and windy on Wednesday, with a risk of storms and temperatures expected to top 20C.

There is a chance of light showers in Perth, with light winds and the mercury reaching a maximum of 18C.

The weather in Darwin will be sunny and warm, with light winds and temperatures around 32 degrees.