Australia Day weather forecast: Rain in Sydney, sunshine in Adelaide and Perth, ... trends now
Wet and stormy weather is forecast to lash multiple states this weekend with wild conditions also refusing to let up for the Australia Day public holiday this Thursday.
Much of Australia's east coast is set to see a rainy second half of the week while vicious storms continue in the north and sunny conditions bring high temperatures to the west.
Lightning storms struck Sydney from 9pm on Tuesday night with bolts flashing across the sky before the arrival of evening storms.
Millions are expected to get out into the sun on Australia Day but Sydneysiders have been warned to brace for an afternoon storm.
'A warm and mostly sunny morning will entice millions of people to head outdoors across the Greater Sydney region,' Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino said.
'But the pleasant morning weather will hide the threat of afternoon thunderstorms which could become severe.'
Lighting storms hit Sydney (above) from 9pm on Tuesday with more rain forecast to fall over the city on Wednesday and Friday
Meteorologists warned afternoon storms will ruin Sydneysiders Australia Day holiday (pictured, pedestrians in Sydney)
Storms will start to develop around the ranges and western parts of Sydney by the afternoon, threatening damaging winds, heavy rain and large hail.
Sydney is forecast to reach a top of 31C in the city and 35C in the west, with humidity remaining high.
Meanwhile, flash flooding and power outages struck Victoria on Tuesday afternoon after severe thunderstorms developed.
In the 90 minutes to 3.30pm, at least 24mm of rain fell over Geelong Racecourse.
More than 3,000 homes were left without power when lightning struck the area.
Weatherzone meteorologist Anthony Sharwood said storms remain possible across most of eastern Australia for the coming days.
Cloudy skies and drizzly rain is forecast to push through southern Victoria on Thursday before moving north across the border.
Flash flooding hit regional Victoria on Tuesday with at least 24mm falling in 90 minutes in Geelong (above)
Storms also affected Melbourne's northern and eastern suburbs (pictured, Tuesday afternoon's rain radar)
Fortunately, Melbourne residents can expect mostly sunny conditions for the public holiday before windy conditions set over the city on Saturday.
Tropical Cyclone Freddy is likely to develop in Western Australia on Saturday, bringing damaging wind gusts and significant rainfall totals.
If the cyclone does develop, it could bring gusts of up to 125km/h and intense rainfall with up to 300mm forecast to fall over 35 hours.
However, Perth is expected to avoid the brunt of the storm with mostly sunny weather forecast through to the weekend.
Weather will remain fine in South
