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Millions of Aussies are in for a wild weekend of weather as torrential downpours, destructive winds, thunderstorms, and flash flooding smash parts of the east coast.
Up to 80mm of rain could fall across parts of southern NSW on Friday as a low-pressure system develops off the coast.
The deluge will move into Sydney overnight, where 100mm is forecast for this weekend - the wettest so far this summer.
A severe warning for heavy rainfall and damaging winds has been issued for the NSW Illawarra, South Coast and Southern Tablelands districts.
Conditions will deteriorate in the Shoalhaven and Illawarra regions from Friday afternoon and into the evening, with peak gusts of up to 100 km/h along the coast.
Tourists holidaying in the region have been urged to rethink plans and listen to advice from authorities, just hours after record-breaking flash flooding washed away vehicles and flooded campgrounds at a popular hotspot in Victoria.
'We are asking people to be particularly cautious if they are camping near creeks, rivers or lakes, as water levels can rise quickly and cut off road access,' NSW SES Superintendent Dallas Burnes said.
'Heavy rain is forecast to continue for several days in some areas, and campers may become isolated if they do not leave ahead of the severe weather.'
Large parts of NSW will be smashed by wild weather this weekend
Sydneysiders will need their umbrellas this weekend with up to 100mm of rain forecast (pictured, people recover camping gear near the Wye River in Victoria)
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Angus Hines added: 'We'll likely see some damaging wind gusts on Friday, up to about 100km/h.
'We will also see some heavy, persistent rain. We will see further rainfall piling into soaked parts of southern NSW throughout the course of the weekend.'
More than 115.8mm fell within 24 hours at Brogo Dam near Bega, while a 110mm deluge at nearby Merimbula marked a record daily total for January.
The wet spell was well-received by most locals.
'Before the overnight deluge, January had been virtually bone dry, while most of the South Coast had experienced a run of four months with significant rainfall deficiencies,' Weatherzone reported.
'The low over the South Coast is relatively slow-moving, so the southern half of the NSW coastline can expect the heaviest rain and showers.'
Up to 70mm of rain is forecast for Sydney on Saturday, followed by another 30mm downpour the following day.
A hazardous surf warning will extend from the Sydney coast right down to Eden this weekend, with people urged to avoid dangerous water activities.
The NSW South Coast and parts of Victoria have been battered by wild conditions
A major clean-up is underway along Victoria's south-west coast after record flash floods
The treacherous conditions are also expected to cause erosion along the coast from Cronulla in Sydney's south all the way down to Batemans Bay.
A strong wind warning has been issued for much of Victoria this weekend.
Clean-up efforts continue after torrential rain caused havoc for hundreds of holidaymakers along the state's scenic Great Ocean Road.
The Wye, Kennett and Cumberland rivers were quickly swollen by an inland downpour on Thursday afternoon, carrying huge amounts of water downstream that swamped campgrounds and moved cars.
About 178mm fell in six hours, with the Great Ocean Road closed in both directions between Lorne and Skenes Creek.
Tennis fans heading to day one of the Australian Open on Sunday should bring hats and sunscreen, with Melbourne set to swelter through 28C on Sunday, and 29C on Monday and Tuesday.
Elsewhere across Australia, parts of rain-ravaged north and central Queensland remain on flood watch.
Another weather system forming off the Queensland coast has a 'high' chance of becoming a severe tropical cyclone early next week, according to BoM. The forecast comes just days after Cyclone Kojo caused widespread devastation.
Further south, severe thunderstorms with damaging winds, heavy rainfall and large hail are forecast for the eastern Darling Downs, Granite Belt, Lockyer Valley and Scenic Rim.
In the Top End, Darwin could be inundated with up to 160mm of rain this weekend.
It will be much drier in Adelaide and Perth, with highs of 27 and 33C respectively.
This playground near the Wye River was off limits on Friday after record-breaking torrential rains wreaked havoc at a popular tourist hotspot, sweeping cars and caravans into the ocean
SydneySaturday: Showers. Possible storm. Min 19 Max 25
Sunday: Rain. Min 19 Max 22
Monday: Showers. Min19 Max26
Tuesday: Shower or two. Min21 Max27
Wednesday: Shower or two. Min 20 Max 27
CanberraSaturday: Shower or two. Min 13 Max 19
Sunday: Possible shower. Min 11 Max 22
Monday: Shower or two. Min 12 Max 23
Tuesday: Shower or two. Min 14 Max 25
Wednesday Possible shower. Min 13 Max 27
MelbourneSaturday: Partly cloudy. Min 17 Max 27
Sunday: Sunny. Min 16 Max 28
Monday: Partly cloudy. Min 18 Max 29
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Min 19 Max 29
Wednesday: Cloudy. Min 18 Max 27
The Wye, Kennett and Cumberland rivers were quickly swollen by an inland downpour on Thursday, leaving behind a trail of destruction
HobartSaturday: Cloudy. Min 13 Max 20
Sunday: Possible shower. Min 14 Max 21
Monday: Possible shower. Min 15 Max 23
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Min 16 Max 26
Wednesday: Possible shower. Min 15 Max 23
AdelaideSaturday: Sunny. Min 16 Max 30
Sunday: Mostly sunny. Min 19 Max 35
Monday: Mostly sunny. Min 19 Max 27
Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Min 17 Max 32
Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Min 17 Max 32
People are seen collecting their belongings after flash flooding near the Wye River
PerthSaturday: Partly cloudy. Min 18 Max 25
Sunday: Sunny. Min 15 Max 28
Monday: Sunny. Min 18 Max 35
Tuesday: Sunny. Min 23 Max 41
Wednesday: Sunny. Min 26 Max 39
DarwinSaturday: Showers. Storm. Min 24 Max 31
Sunday: Rain. Storm. Min 25 Max 31
Monday: Showers. Possible storm. Min 24 Max 31
Tuesday: Showers. Storm developing. Min 24 Max 31
Wednesday: Showers. Min 25 Max 32
BrisbaneSaturday: Showers. Possible late storm. Min 25 Max 32
Sunday: Shower or two. Min 23 Max 29
Monday: Possible shower. Min 23 Max 31
Tuesday: Shower or two. Min 22 Max 30
Wednesday: Shower or two. Min 22 Max 29