Sorry everyone, but the Christmas weather forecast just got worse.
It seems the Three Wise Men are bringing gold, frankincense and moisture. And lots of it.
Meteorologists have said the weather is set to “intensify” this weekend bringing hectic conditions including the possibility of severe storms.
If you’re in the east of Australia, you can expect even more rain than was originally expected, in many areas.
Melbourne, which it had been thought would get just a smattering of rain on the big day, could now end up copping 25mm.
Brisbane and Canberra could also see a drenching. Although in Perth it’s blue skies and 30C plus days all the way.
“It looks unsettled, stormy and cool in the east,” Sky News Weather meteorologist Bradlyn Oakes told news.com.au.
“Almost all the capital cities are set to see some wet weather with the biggest risk of storms in Canberra and Brisbane”.
She added it could be a “washout”.
‘Intensification’ coming this weekend
The unsettled conditions are being driven by a low pressure trough which is lingering around inland Australia from the Top End all the way down towards the Murray.
Additionally the Southern Annual Mode, westerly winds that blow across southern Australia, has been sucked more towards Antarctica.
That in turn is helping to pull moisture laden tropical air further south across the continent’s east.
And a chunky bit of low pressure is looking to park itself over the south east.
“We’re seeing very unstable conditions particularly through southeast Queensland, much of NSW and pushing into Victoria,” said Ms Bradbury.
“Late in the weekend, when that trough starts to deepen, we may see an intensification of the showers and thunderstorms giving a fresh burst to our thunderstorm outbreak going into early next week – and unfortunately impacting our Christmas Day and Boxing Day.”
Much moisture in Melbourne
Melbourne is the place where the forecast has changed most. While the next couple of days should remain sunny with highs around 25C, the rain will begin on Sunday with a possible 9mm as a storm potentially rolls in.
On Christmas Day there could be anything from 2 to 25mm of rain with another storm. It’s forecast to hit a high of 23C. A further 10mm is possible for Boxing Day.
From Saturday, the rain clouds also begin to form over Canberra with some moisture in the evening. It won’t be a huge total on Christmas Eve but the 25th could experience between 3 and 20mm with storms and a 25C maximum. Boxing Day will be much the same for the capital.
Likely rain for you too Sydney, although, fingers crossed, the Harbour City may just escape it. If not, as much as 8mm on the 24th and 25th is forecast.
Just like the rest of the east, thunderstorms could be a feature from Christmas Eve onwards.
Inland NSW is looking soggy too with up to 20mm in Dubbo on Christmas Eve and the same in Wagga Wagga on Christmas Day. Merimbula could see anything from 3mm to 40mm on December 25 with Nowra set to see 1 to 15mm on Christmas Eve and the day itself.
Hot and humid in Brisbane with some drops of moisture on Saturday as the mercury peaks at 29C. The same temperatures on Christmas Eve with the chance of a storm and as much as 15mm of rain.
Then up to 20mm on Christmas Day in the city, which will reach 33C, and 10mm the day after.
Some spots of rain in a mostly sunny Cairns but only a millimetre or two each day.
Topping out in the mid-thirties in Darwin over Yuletide with possible storms most days but little in the way of rain.
Hot and dry in Perth
A belter of a blue sky Christmas in Perth beckons with highs of 33 to 35C up to and including Christmas Day. Temperatures dip on Boxing Day to 25C but it should creep up again as the week progresses.
Mostly dry and sunny in Adelaide this Christmas although not hugely warm. Although Saturday could go to 27C the mercury is set to fall with 22C on Christmas Eve where it will stay put until Boxing Day. A possible shower on December 25.
Rain could occur in Hobart from December 24 but don’t expect much with a few splashes in the gauge here and there. The festive period should remain around 21C with mid teen minimums.