#15. A wet weekend ahead

(by Rachel Levy SMH) NSW residents are being warned to prepare for a weekend deluge of up to 300 millimetres of rain - more than twice the monthly average in some northern parts of the state - following the likely formation of an east coast low near the NSW-Queensland border. For Sydney, falls could reach 140mm from Saturday to Monday, with totals dependent on how long the low lingers just off shore. The average monthly rainfall for Sydney in June is 132mm.On current forecasts, Sydney is expecting showers on Friday with 3-10mm of rain.

Saturday is forecast to bring more rain, with 15-40mm forecast, as winds pick up to 40km/h throughout the day. The rain on Sunday is expected to be heavier still, with 30-80mm and winds of up to 45km/h forecast. A further 6-20mm could fall on Monday, when the rain is expected to ease.Jane Golding, the weather bureau's acting NSW regional director, said that, as the weather system moved south from Queensland, it was likely to develop into an east coast low. "The system will likely impact the entire NSW coast and adjacent ranges over the weekend, with widespread heavy rain and high winds that have the potential to cause riverine and flash flooding, bring trees down and cause property damage," she said.