A lingering monsoon low could bring a year's worth of rain in a week to parts of inland South Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales, just weeks after record-breaking heat, with a high risk of flash flooding, the Bureau of Meteorology has warned.
Severe weather warnings have been issued for Tuesday across north-western NSW, central and northern Victoria, north-east SA, and south-western Queensland, with heavy, locally intense rainfall predicted. Places in north-eastern SA and north-western NSW are expected to receive between 200-300mm of rain over coming days, with widespread falls of 100-200mm across inland areas.
Outback towns like Marree, about 600km north of Adelaide, could receive more than its average annual rainfall of 142mm, after a very dry year with just 37mm recorded throughout 2025. Further thunderstorms with potential for heavy rain and flash flooding may hit Melbourne on Tuesday.
The Indian Pacific tourist train, operating between Perth and Sydney, has been turned around and sent back to Perth after heavy rain and flooding washed away sections of track up to 100m. The Australian Rail Track Corporation said repairs could take more than a week, and a further significant weather system is forecast to move across similar areas later this week.
Heavy rain and flooding are expected to cause more disruptions in coming days, potentially isolating some communities, but also filling up aquifers, rainwater tanks, and dams. Heavy rain is falling directly over Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, which could be pretty full by next week.
