Overview

• A surface trough off the Queensland coast is driving an extensive rainband that continues to deliver heavy showers along the east coast.
• Sydney recorded 98 mm of rain by Friday, making it the city’s wettest August in nine years and triggering flash-flood alerts.
• The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe thunderstorm warnings for Western Australia and hazardous surf warnings for parts of Queensland.
• A woman is believed to have died after being swept away in floodwaters near Cessnock.
• Organisers cancelled the Byron Writers Festival and advised City2Surf participants to prepare for a showery, chilly race morning.