Weather News

Humidifier to fuel NSW storms

Brett Dutschke, Thursday October 8, 2015 - 14:06 AEDT

Northeasterly winds in New South Wales will act as an humidifier, providing fuel for showers and thunderstorms to develop across the state during the coming days.

Showers and storms will occur each day from now through to mid-next week as these warming winds blow moisture from the Pacific Ocean into a slow-moving low pressure trough.

The most significant showers and storms should focus on the southern inland, then over the weekend they will also dampen the central and northern inland. By early next week some will be drawn to the coast by a cooler change.

Increasing humidity and instability will ensure some places pick up some rainfall for three or four days straight, potentially adding up to 20-to-40 millimetres. And in some areas this amount of rainfall, close to a month's worth, may occur in just a day or two.

Places most likely to see close to a month's worth of rain in just a few days are in the Riverina, South West Slopes and Central West Slopes and Plains.

However, the nature of showers and storms means that some places in these districts and elsewhere in the state will pick up significantly less rainfall than their neighbours.

Even for those who do not get much of a soaking, the stickiness in the air will be noticeable compared to late, particularly when exercising.

It is still too early in the season for humidity and stickiness to be oppressive but it will be enough to contribute to warmer-than-average nights.

Those heading to Bathurst for the annual four-day car racing event can look forward to comfortable warmth - a few degrees above average by night, good news for campers, and as much as six degrees above average by day. But showers and storms may put a dampener on the weekend, most likely on Sunday.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2015

Enter a postcode or town name for local weather, or text to search the site. » advanced search

Weather News

» all stories

Rainfall to soak some parched areas of WA

13:00 AEST Rain will soak parts of WA over the coming week, although forecast models are struggling to agree on whether this burst of wet weather will bring much-needed rain to parched Perth.