Year-to-date rainfall deficiency areas eased in severity in some areas of southern Australia but expanded in parts of western NSW, according to the Bureau of Meteorology's latest Drought Statement, issued on Monday.
Over the course of the next week we have three areas of focus in our weather: the southeast early in the stretch, the southwest with a few rain systems, and an out of season rain system for eastern Queensland, mainly in the north, writes Jane Bunn.
Significant rain and snow are expected in southeastern Australia this long weekend, providing relief for drought-affected areas and a boost for the alpine snow season, writes Jane Bunn.
We've had a big rain system cross through the northwest and NT over the past few days. That lies over Queensland now and continues there for the weekend (without the significant falls that we saw further west).
We currently have a big weather system crossing the southeast. This delivered huge rainfalls to eastern NSW, but it can't spread far west thanks to blocking high pressure. We're in the last part, and the rain clears away early tomorrow.
