Millions of Aussies warned as mixed-bag of 'severe' weather to hit in next 48 hours

Thunderstorms may merge into a squall line spanning hundreds of kilometres long, increasing the risk of destructive winds, large hail and supercells.

A graph of Australia depicting the parts of the country set to cop the brunt of the wild weather. A picture of Perth's skyline with lightning strikes is also seen.
Large parts of Australia are set to cop a battering from a mixed-bag of extreme weather in the coming days. Zones highlighted in red and yellow are most at risk on Friday. Source: Weatherzone/Getty

Large parts of the country's south-east are expected to cop a battering from wild weather within the 48 hours as a powerful cold front collides with a humid and warm northerly airstream. Meteorologists say the clash will result in a mixed-bag of dangerous conditions, including rain, gales, dust storms and severe thunderstorms.

Western Australia was the first state to feel the brunt of the unstable conditions, having been hammered by severe storms on Wednesday. The system is now expected to move across South Australia today, before it enters Victoria and eventually NSW on Friday.

A low-pressure system travelling with the front will also bring widespread rain to Tasmania, with a significant dumping also expected to fall on some drought-ravaged parts of western Victoria and southern South Australia.

Commuters stand in the rain donning umbrellas in Sydney.
Residents living in the country's south-east have been put on alert to monitor conditions in the next 48-72 hours. Source: Getty

In South Australia, the Bureau of Meteorology currently has multiple severe weather warnings in place on Thursday morning. Residents have been told to prepare to be lashed by wild winds throughout the day, which is expected to create extreme fire danger in the state's north.

Evening thunderstorms may merge into a "squall line" over the central and eastern parts of the state, according to Weatherzone, meaning a near linear band of fast-moving thunderstorms spanning hundreds of kilometres. The imposing weather pattern would increase the risk of destructive winds and very large hail.

Regions north of Adelaide are set to feel the worst of the conditions, but those in the city have been told the system may still reach them too. Scattered yet severe thunderstorms are also possible across western NSW and north-west Victoria today.

It's expected storms in the country's south could worsen this evening, becoming more extreme tomorrow as the front from SA crosses the border and collides with higher atmospheric moisture in the eastern states.

Storms are likely early on Friday in both NSW and Victoria, with the most dangerous forecast to land in the afternoon. A windy squall line may form again over the eastern states as multiple storms come together as one.

This squall line could stretch roughly 1,000 kilometres, from near the Queensland border to central Victoria. It is expected to shift eastward to the slopes and ranges by late afternoon, reaching the New South Wales coast by the evening.

Though the squall line threatens to bring with it damaging wind gusts and intense rain, the atmosphere looks unstable enough tomorrow to also produce supercell storms, Weatherzone warns.

Supercells are powerful, rotating thunderstorms known for their long duration and potential to produce destructive winds, giant hail, and flash flooding. These storms are responsible for the majority of storm-related damage in Australia due to their severity.

Meanwhile, Tasmania is set to be soaked by between 10-50 millimetres of rain within the next 48 hours, with much of the mainland also due to cop a bucketing in the coming days.

Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week’s best stories.