Heatwave to scorch parts of Australia while monsoon trough brings heavy rain to Queensland

A massive heatwave is sweeping across Australia while a monsoon trough is bringing the ‘heaviest rain in years’ and potential flash flooding to Queensland.

The eastern parts of Western Australia, northern South Australia, western NSW and northwest Victoria will swelter through days above 40C this weekend. 

Temperatures are expected to reach 35C in Melbourne, 38C in Adelaide, while Brisbane and Sydney will reach just shy of 30C. 

The heatwave comes as heavy rainfall pummels parts of Queensland with 300mm expected to fall along a 630km stretch of coast between Cardwell and Carmila. 

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued flood watch notifications for Charters Towers, Bowen, Townsville, Palm Island, Ingham, Innisfail, Ayr, Cardwell, Giru, Abergowrie, Clare and Lucinda.

Clean-up efforts are continuing months later in Victoria after heavy rain led to record flooding in the rural town of Rochester in October.

The eastern parts of Western Australia, northern South Australia, western NSW and northwest Victoria will swelter through days above 40C this weekend

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned Queensland residents to remain vigilant and prepare for the worst. 

‘Locally intense rainfall which may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding is also possible over small portions of the warning area during this period,’ the bureau said.

A vast swathe of inland central and northern Queensland could also see moderate to major flooding with 17 catchments placed on flood watch.

The dynamic monsoon trough has made it difficult for forecasters to get a handle on exactly which towns and settlements could be at risk of deluge.

‘At this stage, there is some uncertainty over the location of the heaviest rainfall and therefore which catchments are most at risk of flooding,’ the bureau said on Friday.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services warned residents to keep up to date with warnings and alerts and not to attempt to drive through floodwaters.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed the caution on Saturday morning.

‘Follow the advice of the authorities,’ he said to reporters.

‘Don’t risk driving through floodwaters if they’re present. Make sure that you stay safe because that’s the most important thing.’

Police told motorists not to ignore the advice as the ‘extraordinary weather’ set in over the next several days.

The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts 300mm will fall along a 630km stretch of coast between Cardwell and Carmila in the sunshine state on Saturday and Sunday

This weekend temperatures will reach 35C in Melbourne, 38C in Adelaide, while Brisbane and Sydney will reach just shy of 30C

‘Trying to navigate these hazards, either in vehicles or on foot, can be treacherous, as water levels rise and fall quickly and very often with little or no warning,’ police said in a statement.

A police 4WD with an officer inside was swept off the Pump Creek causeway, near Almaden in far north Queensland, on Friday afternoon.

The officer managed to get out of the vehicle as it was swept into Pump Creek and swam a short distance to the creek bank. He was not injured.

The bureau also said a tropical low could develop near the northeast coast over the weekend or early next week.

Meteorologists warned on Friday the heat from the desert Pilbara region of Western Australia is funnelling hot air southeast into South Australia and Victoria bringing sweltering temperatures to the states. 

The state capitals, however, will be spared from the country’s most extreme heat. 

Southern NSW and Victoria is likely to see some showers on Sunday but remain hot. 

Despite heavy showers across much of Queensland, Brisbane may not see even a drop of rain and is expected to be spared from the wet weather but still be cooler than southern states with highs of 29C in the city.

Meteorologists warned on Friday the heat from the desert Pilbara region of Western Australia is funnelling hot air southeast into South Australia and Victoria bringing sweltering temperatures to the states

Sydney will be spared from NSW’s heatwave with the weekend forecast to be sunny with highs of 29C and lows around 20C.

Around 1,000 homes and local businesses in Rochester – with a population of about 3,100 and some 180km north of Melbourne – were inundated when water surged over the banks of the Campaspe River in October before peaking at 115.7 metres above the mean sea level.

An undersupply of tradespeople and materials mean Lorraine and hundreds of others have no idea when they will be able to move back into their homes.

‘Without exaggeration, there will probably be somewhere between 150 and 200 caravans in people’s driveways,’ Mr Wilson said.

On Saturday, Mr Wilson and his wife counted 250 caravans parked in driveways across Rochester.

Mental health services, builders, tradespeople and labourers were already in short supply before the floods.

‘Now we need them more than ever,’ Mr Wilson said.

‘If people want a little bit of a working holiday, and they’ve got proper trade skills, there is so much work on the go.’