Flood-weary areas of eastern and northern NSW are being hit by severe thunderstorms today, with more heavy rain on the way this weekend and into next week.

The satellite image below shows severe-warned thunderstorms moving over northeast NSW and southeast QLD on Friday afternoon. These storms dropped around 50mm in two hours at Goonengerry and just over 40mm in two hours nearby at Mullumbimby Creek.

Image: Composite radar, satellite and lightning on Friday afternoon.

Severe thunderstorm warnings were also issued in parts of Sydney on Friday as slow-moving storms dumped heavy rain over some southern suburbs. At one stage, rain rate reached 20-30mm per hour around Lucas Heights and the Royal National Park.

Friday’s wet and stormy weather is part of multi-day rain and storm outbreak that will continue over Eastern Australia through the weekend and at least the first half of next week.

The map below shows where and how much rain one computer model is predicting over the next six days for NSW and southeastern QLD.

Image: Forecast daily rainfall during the next six days according to the ECMWF-HRES model.

The maps above show that moderate to heavy rain is likely on each of the next six day, with the largest 24-hour rainfall totals most likely occurring over the weekend and around Tuesday next week.

Daily totals of 20-40mm are forecast across much of southern QLD and northern and eastern NSW between now and Tuesday, March 29. However, daily totals exceeding 60mm, and three-hourly rain rates exceeding 40 mm, are possible, most likely in thunderstorms over pockets of northeast NSW and southeast QLD.

The rainfall each day will accumulate over this multi day event, with weekly rainfall totals potentially reaching 100-200mm over the north coast and ranges in NSW, southeast Qld, and the northern inland and central coast and ranges in NSW.

This rain is may impact some areas which have seen flooding in recent weeks, possibly including Sydney, the Central Coast and the Northern Rivers in NSW, and parts of southeastern QLD.

Be sure to check the latest flood watches, flood warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings over the coming week for the most up-to-date information as this event unfolds.