Severe storms and heavy rain forecast to hit Australia this weekend

Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain will sweep across most Australian states over the weekend, according to the Guardian. Parts of Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia are expected to face severe storms on Saturday, October 24, 2026. The storm system is projected to move into New South Wales and Tasmania by Sunday. [1]

The incoming weather will add to heavy rainfall in Queensland, where flash flooding in the south-east region led to hundreds of State Emergency Service callouts and forced multiple schools to close earlier in the week. The Bureau of Meteorology had nine flood warnings active for south Queensland on Saturday morning, while issuing further warnings for severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, and flash flooding. [1]

A flash flood is a rapid flooding of low-lying areas, such as rivers, washes, and depressions, with fewer than six hours between rainfall and the onset of flooding. Severe weather systems have caused similar severe flooding incidents internationally in recent weeks. As FTMQ News reported earlier, torrential rain from Storm Adam caused fatal flash flooding in northeastern Spain, while a major storm system in Southern California brought severe flash flood risks to coastal areas. [2][5][6]