Half of Australia set for major soaking, millions warned

Monday, 16 February 2026 07:17

Multiple states are looking at a week-long drenching, while hot temperatures rule the country's south.

Millions are facing a soaking this week, with heavy rain set to drench half of Australia.

"A broad area of low pressure over Australia, featuring numerous low pressure troughs and low pressure systems, will interact with moisture-laden air to fuel the week-long soaking in the tropics," Weatherzone has reported.

"While it's difficult to know exactly where the heaviest rain will occur, current forecasts suggest Western Australia's western Kimberley district and Queensland's North Tropical Coast could be the focus for some of the heaviest falls."

Weatherzone said more than 200mm could fall in those areas in the coming week, while broader falls of 100mm or more were probable between them.

People are urged to keep a watch on alerts and warnings, with flooding and road closures and cut-offs a probability in WA, Queensland, and the NT.

Meanwhile, the southern states are set for a scorcher despite the possibility of rain and cloudy days.

Sydney will top out at 35 degrees on Wednesday and crack the 30-degree mark again on the weekend, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Even the "cooler" days will linger in the high 20s.

Melbourne is set for 34 degrees today and 36 degrees tomorrow, before dropping sharply, only to heat up again toward the end of the week.

Adelaide too is set for a sweltering week, with all days forecast to be above 30 degrees except for Wednesday, which will tap out at a relatively cool 24 degrees.

The South Australian capital is set to reach 37 degrees today.

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