Weather News

Thunderstorms and smoke across NSW and QLD

Lightning is flashing across New South Wales this morning with storms spreading north throughout the day.

Overnight a series of low pressure troughs triggered thunderstorms from northern parts of Western Australia through to central South Australia and into western parts of New South Wales and Queensland. By 10am this morning thunderstorms had spread as far east as Griffith and Orange.

Smoke is lingering through eastern NSW and southern QLD from hazard reduction burns, causing difficulty for some with respiratory problems. The light winds through these areas provide minimal risk for these kinds of burns, however they also mean that smoke lingers, particularly in the morning. Smoke was visible this morning through most of this region as the overnight inversion stopped smoke from dissipating further above ground.

Air quality will gradually improve today as the smoke gradually lifts, but this evening and tomorrow morning northeastern NSW and southern QLD will again be smoky. The southeast should be much clearer as a strong southerly change will move north along the coast.

Today storms will move north through New South Wales along a broad trough, with a risk as far southeast as the Illawarra where storms are a small chance until the afternoon. Storms are more likely further north, particularly on and west of the ranges all the way into southern QLD. These storms will generally bring rainfall amounts of less than 10mm.

Tomorrow storms are again a chance in southern QLD ahead of and near the southerly change. These storms are more likely to reach coastal areas compared to today.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2012

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