The Illawarra is set for a drenching in coming days, making for a soggy end to summer.
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After a hot and humid December-to-February period, the clouds began to roll in on Friday – and it looks like they’re not going anywhere for at least a week.
Why? The Bureau of Meteorology says a high pressure system south of the Bight is moving east, extending a ridge along the NSW South Coast.
The system will bring showers to the eastern seaboard of NSW on Saturday, Sunday and into next week.
The inclement weather should begin to make its presence known in the Illawarra from late on Friday afternoon.
There’s a high chance of showers across the region on Friday afternoon and evening, with the chance of a thunderstorm inland.
A southerly change is tipped to move up the NSW on Friday evening and leave plenty of moisture in its wake, Craig McIntosh, from Weatherzone, said.
“Interacting with a low pressure trough tonight [Friday], there is the potential for thunderstorms to spark which could include large hail,” Mr McIntosh said.
“The most likely areas to get storms are between the South Coast and Mid North Coast, stretching out to the Central Tablelands.”
Between now and autumn, many parts of the coast could expect at least 60 millimetres of rain, he said.
Bureau of Meteorology computer models suggest the Illawarra and South Coast will be drenched by at least 50mm – and possibly up to 100mm – of rain between Friday and Monday.
Showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening, are forecast in the Illawarra on Saturday, with the chance of an afternoon/evening thunderstorm in the Southern Highlands.
At this stage, the wettest day appears to be Sunday, with the bureau suggesting between 25 and 40 millimetres of rain will fall in Wollongong.
A similar total is predicted for Kiama, while falls of 15 to 25 millimetres are forecast at Nowra.
A thunderstorm is again a chance across the Illawarra on Sunday.
At this stage, the bureau's forecast suggests showers across the Illawarra every day until Wednesday.
SOGGY END TO SUMMER
WOLLONGONG
- Saturday: Min 19 / Max 20. Cloudy. Very high (90%) chance of showers. Possible rainfall: 10 to 20 mm
- Sunday: Min 19 / Max 20. Cloudy. Very high (90%) chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Possible rainfall: 25 to 40 mm
- Monday: Min 20 / Max 24. Cloudy. High (70%) chance of showers. Possible rainfall: 2 to 4 mm
- Tuesday: Min 20 / Max 24. Partly cloudy. High (80%) chance of showers, most likely during the day. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening. Possible rainfall: 4 to 6 mm
KIAMA
- Saturday: Min 18 / Max 20. Possible rainfall: 10 to 15 mm
- Sunday: Min 18 / Max 20. Possible rainfall: 30 to 45 mm
- Monday: Min 20 / Max 24. Possible rainfall: 3 to 5 mm
- Tuesday: Min 19 / Max 25. Possible rainfall: 4 to 6 mm
NOWRA
- Saturday: Min 16 / Max 20. Possible rainfall: 6 to 10 mm
- Sunday: Min 16 / Max 21. Possible rainfall: 15 to 25 mm
- Monday: Min 17 / Max 25. Possible rainfall: 2 to 4 mm
- Tuesday: Min 17 / Max 25. Possible rainfall: 4 to 6 mm
*Source: Bureau of Meteorology. Forecast correct as of 4.30pm on Friday.