Last week’s oppressive heatwave in eastern Australia came to a close as widespread storms developed over New South Wales and Queensland on the weekend. Unfortunately, another extreme heatwave will grip parts of eastern Australia this week.

Intense storms brought heavy rain and flooding to parts of both states during the last 48 hours.

Some of the heaviest falls occurred in southeast Queensland on Sunday afternoon, with rainfall totals of 20-40mm recorded through central Queensland as far inland as Lochington, with isolated falls of around 60mm at Lonesome Creek, near Theodore and Tieri, near Clermont.

South of the border, Bellingen picked up a total of 188mm amid two days of rain and storms on the weekend. Nearby, Coffs Harbour had 62mm, which is their wettest pair of days since November.

Thankfully, cooler conditions have returned to eastern New South Wales and southern Queensland today in the wake of the stormy change.

St George in Queensland’s Maranoa and Warrego District is forecast to reach 36 degrees today after spending five days at 40-43 last week. In New South Wales, Narrabri’s top of 38 today will be more pleasant than the past five days, which all exceeded 41.

Unfortunately for those that don’t like the heat, northerly winds will return to eastern Australia from today causing the mercury to soar once again.

Severe heatwave conditions are forecast to affect parts of central and eastern New South Wales during the first half of this week. Temperatures should reach the low-to-mid forties from South Australia across to eastern New South Wales on Tuesday and Wednesday, including western suburbs of Sydney.

Heat will spread further north and east in the middle of the week, causing an extreme heatwave in parts of southeast and central Queensland between Wednesday and Saturday. Gympie should reach 38-39 degrees from Wednesday to Friday, which about eight above average for this time of year.

Source: Weatherzone