Residents in drought-affected areas of southeastern Australia are set to receive a substantial amount of rain this week, courtesy of an incoming cold front. This weather event is expected to bring the best rain of the year to some regions, providing much-needed relief to parched South Australia, parts of northern Victoria, and areas of New South Wales.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the cold front, currently positioned off Western Australia, will sweep across the country between Wednesday and Sunday. As it travels east, it is predicted to combine with tropical moisture from the Indian Ocean, enhancing the chances of showers and potentially leading to widespread rainfall across South Australia, Victoria, NSW, and parts of Queensland and Tasmania.
BOM senior meteorologist Angus Hines highlighted the importance of this additional moisture, stating that it would increase the likelihood and extent of rainfall impacting a wide area. This is particularly good news for regions experiencing drought, although the rainfall alone may not completely alleviate the significant moisture deficits that have been accumulating over the past 18 months.
Historic dry spells have severely impacted large areas of southern South Australia, western Victoria, and parts of northern Tasmania, with some places recording their lowest rainfall in history over the past 18 months. The drought has seen water reservoirs in Adelaide drop to some of the lowest levels in decades, with dams currently at only 42% capacity.
The first front is expected to reach Victoria and Alpine New South Wales on Tuesday, potentially bringing snow to the highest peaks, alongside a band of rain. Strong winds will be the primary concern, with gusts exceeding 100km/h already recorded in some areas.
Heavy rainfall totals of 15 to 25mm are forecast, with isolated areas potentially receiving more. In Victoria, there are warnings for damaging, locally destructive winds in various regions and blizzard conditions in alpine areas. South Australia is under severe weather alerts for damaging winds across multiple districts, including Kangaroo Island and Mount Lofty Ranges.
As the cold snap progresses, temperatures across the affected regions are expected to feel colder. While Sydney and other parts of the country can expect cooler, cloudy weather with possible showers, Darwin will experience a relatively warmer, partially cloudy day at 31C.
This much-needed rainfall, though welcome, is only the first step towards recovery from the prolonged drought conditions gripping southeastern Australia.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/22/cold-front-to-dump-decent-dose-of-rain-on-drought-affected-parts-of-south-east-australia
