Millions of Aussies are in for a wild weekend of weather as torrential downpours, destructive winds, thunderstorms, and flash flooding smash parts of the east coast.
Up to 80mm of rain could fall across parts of southern NSW on Friday as a low-pressure system develops off the coast.
The deluge will move into Sydney overnight, where 100mm is forecast for this weekend - the wettest so far this summer.
A severe warning for heavy rainfall and damaging winds has been issued for the NSW Illawarra, South Coast and Southern Tablelands districts.
Conditions will deteriorate in the Shoalhaven and Illawarra regions from Friday afternoon and into the evening, with peak gusts of up to 100 km/h along the coast.
Tourists holidaying in the region have been urged to rethink plans and listen to advice from authorities, just hours after record-breaking flash flooding washed away vehicles and flooded campgrounds at a popular hotspot in Victoria.
'We are asking people to be particularly cautious if they are camping near creeks, rivers or lakes, as water levels can rise quickly and cut off road access,' NSW SES Superintendent Dallas Burnes said.
'Heavy rain is forecast to continue for several days in some areas, and campers may become isolated if they do not leave ahead of the severe weather.'
Large parts of NSW will be smashed by wild weather this weekend.
Sydneysiders will need their umbrellas this weekend with up to 100mm of rain forecast.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Angus Hines added: 'We'll likely see some damaging wind gusts on Friday, up to about 100km/h.
'We will also see some heavy, persistent rain. We will see further rainfall piling into soaked parts of southern NSW throughout the course of the weekend.'
More than 115.8mm fell within 24 hours at Brogo Dam near Bega, while a 110mm deluge at nearby Merimbula marked a record daily total for January.
The wet spell was well-received by most locals.
'Before the overnight deluge, January had been virtually bone dry, while most of the South Coast had experienced a run of four months with significant rainfall deficiencies,' Weatherzone reported.
'The low over the South Coast is relatively slow-moving, so the southern half of the NSW coastline can expect the heaviest rain and showers.'
Up to 70mm of rain is forecast for Sydney on Saturday, followed by another 30mm downpour the following day.
A hazardous surf warning will extend from the Sydney coast right down to Eden this weekend, with people urged to avoid dangerous water activities.
The treacherous conditions are also expected to cause erosion along the coast from Cronulla in Sydney's south all the way down to Batemans Bay.
A strong wind warning has been issued for much of Victoria this weekend.
Clean-up efforts continue after torrential rain caused havoc for hundreds of holidaymakers along the state's scenic Great Ocean Road.
The Wye, Kennett and Cumberland rivers were quickly swollen by an inland downpour on Thursday afternoon, carrying huge amounts of water downstream that swamped campgrounds and moved cars.
About 178mm fell in six hours, with the Great Ocean Road closed in both directions between Lorne and Skenes Creek.
Tennis fans heading to day one of the Australian Open on Sunday should bring hats and sunscreen, with Melbourne set to swelter through 28C on Sunday, and 29C on Monday and Tuesday.
Elsewhere across Australia, parts of rain-ravaged north and central Queensland remain on flood watch.
Another weather system forming off the Queensland coast has a 'high' chance of becoming a severe tropical cyclone early next week, according to BoM. The forecast comes just days after Cyclone Kojo caused widespread devastation.
Further south, severe thunderstorms with damaging winds, heavy rainfall and large hail are forecast for the eastern Darling Downs, Granite Belt, Lockyer Valley and Scenic Rim.
In the Top End, Darwin could be inundated with up to 160mm of rain this weekend.
It will be much drier in Adelaide and Perth, with highs of 27 and 33C respectively.
| City | Saturday | Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | Showers. Possible storm. Min 19 Max 25 | Rain. Min 19 Max 22 | Showers. Min19 Max26 | Shower or two. Min21 Max27 | Shower or two. Min 20 Max 27 |
| Canberra | Shower or two. Min 13 Max 19 | Possible shower. Min 11 Max 22 | Shower or two. Min 12 Max 23 | Shower or two. Min 14 Max 25 | Possible shower. Min 13 Max 27 |
| Melbourne | Partly cloudy. Min 17 Max 27 | Sunny. Min 16 Max 28 | Partly cloudy. Min 18 Max 29 | Partly cloudy. Min 19 Max 29 | Cloudy. Min 18 Max 27 |
| Hobart | Cloudy. Min 13 Max 20 | Possible shower. Min 14 Max 21 | Possible shower. Min 15 Max 23 | Partly cloudy. Min 16 Max 26 | Possible shower. Min 15 Max 23 |
| Adelaide | Sunny. Min 16 Max 30 | Mostly sunny. Min 19 Max 35 | Mostly sunny. Min 19 Max 27 | Mostly sunny. Min 17 Max 32 | Mostly sunny. Min 17 Max 32 |
| Perth | Partly cloudy. Min 18 Max 25 | ||||
| Darwin | Showers. Storm. Min 24 Max 31 | Rain. Storm. Min 25 Max 31 | Showers. Possible storm. Min 24 Max 31 | Showers. Storm developing. Min 24 Max 31 | Showers. Min 25 Max 32 |
| Brisbane | Showers. Possible late storm. Min 25 Max 32 | Shower or two. Min 23 Max 29 | Possible shower. Min 23 Max 31 | Shower or two. Min 22 Max 30 | Shower or two. Min 22 Max 29 |