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A low in north Qld is ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji, scattering showers & storms across the state, leading to flooding in the tropics. Storms, some intense, are affecting NSW, Vic, Tas, the NT's north & WA's north in troughs. Dry, hot easterly winds are affecting WA's far west.
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Today, 7:12AM UTC
Severe NSW/Vic thunderstorm outbreak as flash flooding sweeps cars away
A widespread and dynamic thunderstorm outbreak continues to lash eastern New South Wales and Victoria on Thursday evening, while in the state’s southwest, extremely heavy rainfall along a section of the Great Ocean Road and adjacent ranges caused afternoon flash flooding. Flash flooding and storms in eastern Victoria The flash flooding occurred at the small town of Wye River on the Great Ocean Road, about 160km southwest of Melbourne, with vision emerging of multiple vehicles submerged and some being carried out into the breaking waves. BREAKING: Cars have been swept out to sea by flash flooding in Victoria. Dramatic video shared with 7NEWS showed multiple vehicles at the mercy of the swollen Wye River being pushed towards the beach. ???? DETAILS: https://t.co/Qg0jIHtz6B #flood #flashfood #greatoceanroad #victoria… pic.twitter.com/INm5rStZvm — 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) January 15, 2026 It came after a nearby weather station at Mt Cowley recorded intense rainfall totalling 175.4mm in the six hours to 3pm. Image: Six hours of intense rainfall focused near Wye River, Victoria, on January 15, 2026. Later on Thursday afternoon, the Victorian extreme weather focus turned to the state's east and high country. At 4pm, the BoM issued a severe thunderstorm warning for heavy, locally intense rainfall, large hailstones, and damaging winds in the East Gippsland forecast district, as well as in parts of the North Central, North East, West and South Gippsland and Central forecast districts. High rainfall totals in within very brief periods (indicative of thunderstorm downpours) were recorded during the mid-afternoon at several Victorian locations, including: 53.4mm at Mt Cann Fire Tower in the 30 minutes to 3:57pm. 59.8mm at the tiny town of Licola in one hour up to 3:337pm. And as mentioned, 175.4mm fell at Mt Cowley in the six hours to 3pm, where storms were particularly slow-moving due to weak steering winds. Storms in eastern NSW At 4:16pm, the BoM’s NSW office issued a severe weather warning for thunderstorms that are likely to produce damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding into the evening. The ACT was also included in the original warning area, although a supercell thunderstorm appeared to track just north of Canberra, and the severe weather warning for Canberra was cancelled soon afterwards. Supercell (featuring rotating updraughts) thunderstorms north of Canberra on Thursday. https://t.co/vTCrLo1V4i pic.twitter.com/QsLdaiwiNs — Andrew Miskelly (@andrewmiskelly) January 15, 2026 Just after 6pm, the BoM issued an updated and more detailed severe thunderstorm warning, warning of the chance of giant hailstones, damaging winds and heavy rainfall for people in parts of the Blue Mountains/Hawkesbury, Gosford/Wyong, Sydney, Wollondilly/Wingecarribee and Greater Wollongong areas. A more general severe thunderstorm warning is also current for the Hunter, Illawarra, South Coast and parts of the Mid North Coast, Metropolitan, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, North West Slopes and Plains, Snowy Mountains, Australian Capital Territory, Northern Tablelands, Central West Slopes and Plains and Upper Western districts. For Sydney, any storms that develop will likely arrive close to dark or even after dark. Just like in Victoria, high rainfall totals have been recorded within a short time frame in parts of eastern NSW, especially in the Snowy Mountains and South Coast areas. A downpour of 67mm in 60 minutes was also recorded at Brogo Dam on the South Coast. Image: Thunderstorm development in the SE corner of mainland Australia on the afternoon of Thursday, January 15, 2026. What is causing this severe thunderstorm outbreak? According to Weatherzone meteorologist Joel Pippard, an upper level trough crossing the southeast of the mainland has helped promote convection (rising moist warm air). So even though daytime maximums were only in the mid-20s in many of the areas mentioned, severe storms were able to form and are still developing as darkness approaches.
Today, 12:23AM UTC
Vast area of heat across Western Australia
A large portion of Western Australia is currently under the grip of a heatwave, with maximum temperatures soaring above the already scorching January average in many regions. The BoM defines a heatwave as "when both the minimum and maximum temperatures are unusually hot for 3 days or longer” – and that’s the scenario right now even in famously hot parts of WA like the Pilbara region. Indeed, the run of extreme heat is set to last much longer than three days. Australia’s "hottest town" much hotter than average Marble Bar bills itself as "Australia’s hottest town", although exactly how you define that is up for debate. For example, two other towns jointly hold Australia’s highest recorded temperature of 50.7°C – Oodnadatta in SA and Onslow in WA – while Marble Bar’s hottest recorded day was "only" 49.3°C. But for consistent heat, it’s hard to beat Marble Bar. The small mining outpost with a population of around 900 has an average maximum temperature of 42.1°C in December (the hottest month) and 40.9°C in January, in records dating back to the year 2000. Marble Bar’s maximums in the current heatwave are much hotter than the January average. Wednesday‘s maximum was 44.1°C. This Thursday is predicted to reach 45°C, followed by a run of days expected to peak at 45°C, 46°C, 43°C, 46°C, 47°C and 47°C again by next Wednesday. Image: The Marble Bar Roadhouse, WA, where cold drinks are probably quite popular. Source: iStock/Adrian Wojcik. Back in the summer of 2023/24, Marble Bar endured a run of 26 days where the mercury reached at least 43°C. On six of those days, the mercury hit 47°C or higher. So the current heatwave is not yet in record-breaking territory in terms of its extreme temperatures or its duration, but it’s nonetheless a very significant weather event And as mentioned, the heat extends well beyond the Pilbara. WA forecast districts where heatwave conditions are occurring this week also include the Kimberley, North Interior, South Interior, Gascoyne, Central West and Southern Wheatbelt. Even parts of the Lower West (where Perth is located) and South West have low-intensity heatwave warnings current, although by far the most severe heat is further north and further inland. Image: The current heatwave is already underway, but as shown in the three-day chart from this coming Sunday, January 18, it will last well into next week. What's causing this WA heatwave? Interestingly, the same easterly winds bringing moist conditions to eastern parts of NSW and Victoria are partly responsible as they circulate around a strong high pressure system centred over the Bight. Those winds are then drying out and warming up as they cross the arid interior of the continent heading west. "A persistent heat trough over the Pilbara and Kimberley is also a factor, allowing significant heat to build over the northern half of the state," Weatherzone meteorologist Angus Konta adds. "This heat is transported south as troughs extend down the west coast, allowing for the surges of heat for southern districts." Image: Daily Forecast for Perth, WA, on the Weatherzone app. Perth is heading for a maximum of 36°C this Thursday, then a string of days with highs within a few degrees of the January average of 31.4°C, before a fresh surge of heat next Tuesday lifts maximums towards 40°C in the city and suburbs.
14 Jan 2026, 12:10AM UTC
Ex-TC Koji funnels much-needed moisture to NSW and Victoria
Parts of New South Wales that have barely seen a drop of rain in the first half of January 2026 will see showers and storms this Wednesday as a trough crosses the state. Showers and storms could also develop in northeastern Victoria, although Thursday looks more likely for any meaningful rain south of the Murray. Any rain that falls in central parts of New South Wales this Wednesday and Thursday will be especially welcome. Image: Australian rainfall deficiencies for the last three months of 2025. Significant rain has continued to be absent from most of the rainfall-deficient areas in NSW (red shading) over the first two weeks of 2026, which is why any rain this week will be welcomed by most locals. Source: BoM. Examples of large population centres in need of rain The city of Dubbo (which lies close to the geographical heart of NSW in the Central West Slopes and Plains forecast district) saw less than a third of its average monthly rainfall in each of the last three months of 2025. January has also been relatively dry to date in Dubbo, with just 10.4mm of rain as we approach the halfway mark of the month (January average 55.7mm). It has been a similar story in the NSW Southern Tablelands forecast district and the ACT (which lies within that region). Canberra closed out 2025 with three months that saw roughly half their average rainfall, while only 8.6mm has fallen to date in January 2026 (monthly average 56.8mm). Ex-TC Koji now influencing weather in southern Australia "The broad low pressure trough is extending from ex-TC Koji in the north all the way down to central Victoria," Weatherzone meteorologist Joel Pippard explains, "The trough will meet up with an upper trough and cold pool from today. As the system tracks west, bringing scattered to widespread thunderstorms on Thursday, it will spawn a coastal trough off the NSW coast. "The moisture feed from the tropics and the Tasman Sea will deliver heavy rainfall along the NSW coast, heaviest in the far south, with a growing powerful swell to impact the coast from Friday to next Tuesday." NSW South Coast deluge appears likely later this week Image: Predicted rainfall totals for the South Coast of NSW and adjacent areas up until Tuesday, January 20, according to the ECMWF model. As a low pressure system develops just off the NSW South Coast on Friday, heavy rain will fall in that region and nearby areas. The South Coast is another part of NSW that been very dry lately. Everyone knows Bega because of cheese (it’s not shown on the map above but is located just north of Merimbula). Cheese means dairy country, which usually means relatively high rainfall if an area is not widely irrigated – and this area isn’t. But Bega finished off 2025 with four months of significantly below-average rainfall and hadn’t received a drop of rain in the first two weeks of 2026 to 9am this Wednesday. By next Tuesday, Bega could have received totals in the vicinity of 200mm of rainfall. We’ll keep you posted on the NSW South Coast low later this week as it develops.