Rain is going to sweep across a broad area of Queensland and NSW during the next 4-5 days, with thunderstorms and flooding possible in some areas.

Moisture-laden air interacting with a low pressure trough has been causing cloud, showers and the odd thunderstorm to develop over eastern Australia on Wednesday.

On Thursday, rain and storms will become more widespread over western districts of NSW and across Queensland's southern and central inland. Rain will also extend towards the coast in southern Queensland and northern NSW. Most of Thursday's rain and storms are unlikely to be severe, although brief and isolated areas of heavy rain are possible.

The low pressure trough will shift further east on Friday, causing rain and storms to spread over NSW and southeast and central Queensland. There is potential for moderate to heavy rain in some areas, most likely with slow-moving showers or storms.

Image: Forecast daily rainfall totals for the next four days from the ECMWF model.

Further persistent and locally heavy rain, along with some thunderstorms, will linger over central and southeast Queensland and far northeast NSW on Saturday as the low pressure trough moves closer to the Coral Sea. Some areas could see 30-50mm of rain on Saturday alone.

The system will clear off Australia's east coast on Sunday, allowing drier weather to return for most of eastern Australia.

Altogether, widespread falls of 10-20mm are likely over a broad area of Queensland and NSW between now and Sunday. Some areas of central and southeast Queensland and far northeast NSW could see 50-100mm from this system.

Image: Forecast accumulated rainfall total for the next four days from the ECMWF model.

Keep up to date with the latest severe weather and thunderstorm warnings during the rest of this week if you live in eastern Australia.