A vast northwest cloudband stretching from the Indian Ocean to the Tasman Sea is delivering steady rainfall to parts of Australia, especially to inland parts of the east.
This train of moisture extending thousands of kilometres across the continent has its origins in tropical waters off the northwest of Australia.
READ MORE: What is a northwest cloudband?
Rain is also falling where its least wanted in mid-August – namely in the mainland alpine region where the snowpack at the ski resorts is taking a beating. The rain could turn to snow at higher elevations overnight, but no significant accumulation is expected.
How much rain has fallen so far?
The combined radar and satellite loop (below) doesn’t show all the rain that is falling this Thursday, due to a lack of radar towers in remote parts of the inland.
READ MORE: How to read weather radar images (and why it matters)
But falls of around 10 mm have been recorded in outback SA and far western NSW between 9 am and 3 pm this Thursday, with rain continuing in many areas.
Image: Three-hour combined radar and satellite loop from midday to 3 pm (AEST) on Thursday, August 20, 2026. Source: Weatherzone.
In the 24 hours to 9 am Thursday, heavy falls were recorded at multiple locations from this persistent system. Notable readings included:
118 mm at Lake Mackenzie in northern Tasmania (we wrote on Tuesday that northwest Tas was in line for the heaviest falls in this system)
Widespread falls exceeding 25 mm in central Victoria in a belt north of Melbourne but south of the Murray River.
The heaviest Vic total was 43 mm at Daylesford in the Central Highlands, while the alpine resorts of Mt Hotham (40.8 mm) and Falls Creek (38.6 mm) were not far behind.
25.6 mm fell at Thredbo Top Station, which was the heaviest NSW total.
When will the rain clear?
The inland rain should start to ease on Friday with a mostly dry weekend in store, although showers should persist until the middle of next week on parts of Victoria’s coastal fringe.
Forecast models currently suggest that the inland can expect another drenching early next week as a low pressure system crosses southeastern Australia.
Similar to this week’s system, there will be no influx of cold Southern Ocean air to accompany the rainfall, although chilly air could push across the southeast at the back end of the system around Wednesday next week, potentially producing light snowfalls.