Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane weather: When the rain stops

Eastern Australia has been hit by a deluge of wet weather following a heatwave that warmed much of the country in recent days.

Former Tropical Cyclone Kirrily is moving across NSW, bringing heavy rainfall and the risk of flash flooding before heading out to sea south of Sydney on Tuesday evening.

Kirrily lingered in the outback after making landfall on the Queensland coast near Townsville in January and is now moving south-east towards Sydney, Wollongong and Canberra.

Angus Hines from the Bureau of Meteorology said a 'band of moisture, rain and cloud extends across central south-eastern NSW'

“There is a broad warning for heavy rain extending into Canberra,” Mr Hines said.

“By 6pm on Tuesday, the ex-tropical cyclone and most of its associated rain will be well over the ocean.”

The rain should ease by Tuesday evening as the low moves out to sea south of Sydney

“The southern end of the low-pressure system will see the heaviest rainfall, with 30mm to 100mm expected,” Mr Hines said.

'Canberra is right in line with the heavier rainfall totals and we could see between 50mm and 100mm of rain over the next 24 hours.'

“Sydney itself will get somewhere between 5mm and 20mm, while Wollongong may get 20mm to 30mm.”

“The heaviest falls and thunderstorms will occur along the south coast, which could also affect northeastern Victoria.”

Sydney's Warragamba Dam could overflow in the coming week after some of the heaviest rain in decades hit northwest NSW on Monday.

The outback town of Bedourie was drenched with 113mm on Monday and Tibooburra in north-west NSW received 79mm.

The deluge has led to warnings and warnings of flooding in the western interior, up to the slopes and mountain ranges.

Cyclone Kirrily made landfall on January 25 as a Category 2 storm and has since brought record-breaking rainfall to northern Queensland, the Northern Territory and parts of South Australia.

A boat washed ashore during Tropical Cyclone Kirrily in Townsville, the second cyclone to devastate North Queensland in January

Another tropical low forming in the Coral Sea off Queensland's north coast could be the state's third cyclone in two months and will be named Lincoln if it develops.

Governor-General David Hurley visited communities in Queensland affected by rain on Monday and shared a message from King Charles.

“My wife and I are deeply concerned about the devastating impact of the recent weather events in Queensland,” Charles' post read.

“The devastating fires of late last year and the more recent tropical cyclones… have, I know, put intolerable pressure on the lives of people in many communities.”

Charles said the recent natural disasters were a test of the resilience of Queensland's people.

“We have great admiration for those brave rescue crews and all others who help protect life and defend property in difficult and often very dangerous circumstances,” he said.

“That spirit of friendship and helping those in need reflects the very best of Australian characteristics and makes us so proud of the resilience and determination of the Australian people.

“Our continued thoughts and sympathies are with all Queenslanders who are continually affected by these events.”

Another weather system in the Coral Sea could become the third cyclone to hit Queensland in two months (Photo: Kirrily winds tore down trees in Townsville)

The rain has brought cooler temperatures to NSW after the mercury peaked at 34.3 degrees Celsius in central Sydney on Monday morning, but high humidity pushed the apparent temperature about 5 degrees higher.

Temperatures should remain lower in Sydney for the rest of the week, with highs in the low 20s and possible showers each day.

Brisbane will be slightly warmer, with the mercury reaching the low 30s, while Melbourne will have a cooler week with cloudy weather and temperatures reaching highs in the low 20s.