23/01/2012: This week is shaping up as one of extreme weather across the Australian continent, according to weatherzone.com.au.

There will be a growing flood threat across eastern Australia this week, while in Western Australia, heat wave conditions will impact on Perth. In the north of Western Australia, coastal communities will be on alert due to the potential for a tropical cyclone to form.

"Southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales are in for a prolonged deluge of rain, with the potential for widespread falls of over 200mm for areas between Bundaberg in Queensland and Port Macquarie in New South Wales by the end of the week," said Alex Zadnik, senior meteorologist at Weatherzone.

"Some towns will see even higher rain totals in the 300-400mm range over the next six days, bringing a significant threat of both flash flooding and river flooding," continued Mr Zadnik.

"We have a stationary high pressure system in place over the Tasman Sea, which is going to send a persistent flow of moisture-laden air into both Queensland and New South Wales. The entire lower portion of the atmosphere is going to become saturated during the first half of this week, setting the scene for torrential rainfall when a deepening low pressure trough forms along the eastern seaboard," said Mr Zadnik.

For the west coast of Western Australia, weather conditions will be in stark contrast, with extended heat wave conditions. It is worth noting that heat waves can have the greatest toll on human life of any weather phenomena, with the very young and elderly at greatest risk.

"Using the most widely accepted heat wave definition of at least five days in a row with maximum temperatures of five or more degrees above average, Perth is certainly going to qualify," said Mr Zadnik.

"Perth's average maximum temperature in January is 30.9 degrees and the forecast is for temperatures near 40 degrees between Tuesday and Sunday. If the temperature gets past 40 this week as expected, it will be the hottest weather so far this summer, with the previous highest being 39.9 degrees back in December," continued Zadnik.

While Perth is sweltering through an extended run of heat, communities along the northwest coastline of Western Australia will be monitoring the formation of a tropical low over the Indian Ocean.

"A monsoonal low over the Indian Ocean is expected to intensify into a tropical cyclone by mid to late week (likely to be named Iggy), with the potential for a coastal impact towards the weekend. There is still uncertainty around the future movement and strength of this system, although the Pilbara coastline would be the area singled out for being most at risk," said Mr Zadnik.

With such a wild week of weather ahead, Weatherzone's experienced team of meteorologists will be on stand-by to provide expert commentary as the situation unfolds.

Media Inquiries:

Alex Zadnik
media@weatherzone.com.au
02 9965 9269

About Weatherzone:

Weatherzone is Australia's most popular commercial meteorological resource, supplying weather information to most of Australia's major television broadcasters and websites. www.weatherzone.com.au has been developed by a team of world class meteorologists and features user friendly, up-to-the minute access to weather across the country.

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