Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney forecast: Significant rain as wet weather, storms hit.

“There’s lots of action across the south eastern parts of Australia,” said Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Angus Hines.

Severe weather warnings for heavy and locally intense rainfall are in place for southern areas of NSW from Albury to Yass as well as the ACT, and in Victoria in the north west for Wodonga and the mountains.

‘Heavy rain warning’

Expect up to 30mm in many areas. But in isolated patches as much as 80mm could fall in just six hours as bursts of torrential rain hit, with potentially as much as 120mm in 24 hours.

Rain associated with thunderstorms could fall anywhere from Tasmania to Queensland, Mr Hines said.

“A low pressure area is moving towards Tasmania, spinning a band of rain with storms out across the southeastern states,” he said.

“Through Wednesday, widespread wet weather is expected around Tasmania, Victoria, NSW the ACT as well as parts of southern Queensland.

“This is a heavy rain warning. We’re likely to get several hours of rainfall that could really top up to some significant accumulations in northeastern Victoria and southern NSW.”

But wherever thunderstorms hit they can bring “quick but every intense severe weather,” said Mr Hines, leading to flash or riverine flooding.

Albury could see 10-40mm on Wednesday with similar totals for Yass. Across the Murray in Victoria, Wangaratta could reach 35mm as storms come through and Falls Creek is looking at 30mm.

Much of the rain could come in a short period of time with morning or afternoon storms worsening flooding concerns.

While Sydney is away from the worst of the rain, up to 20mm could still end up in the gauge with the storms due in the afternoon and evening.

From late morning to early evening, rain in Canberra could see 15-35mm fall.

The same amount of rain could fall in Melbourne with thunderstorms possible during the morning and afternoon.

Not as much rain for Tasmania with Hobart looking at 5-15mm on Wednesday. However, on the north coast, in Wynyard for example, up to 30mm of moisture could fall.

In Brisbane only a few showers are likely as the rain threat is less in Queensland. But the rainfall totals could ramp up as the week continues.

Border areas such as Cunnamulla and St George could see heavier falls on Wednesday associated with storms.