Just when we'd started to make peace with winter's chill, parts of Australia are about to be treated to some seriously biblical weather this week.

A powerful low-pressure system (i.e., a weather pattern that typically brings clouds, rain, and strong winds due to rising air and unstable atmospheric conditions) is moving in, and according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), it’s set to bring heavy rain, strong winds and choppy surf from Tuesday, with some scientists actually coining the event a cyclone 'bomb'.

Below, start planning your wet-weather wardrobe (we'll be living in barn jackets and Hunter wellies here at RUSSH), with exactly what to expect from this week's wet conditions.

Which parts of Australia will get the worst of it?

The first signs of the storm appeared over the weekend, with light showers forming in north Queensland and Tasmania. But by Monday, two different weather systems — one from the tropics, one from the south — will collide near the NSW coast.

Rain will build across the Northern Rivers, the Mid North Coast and the northern Tablelands first, and by Tuesday afternoon, the low-pressure system will strengthen and spread down the coast, bringing heavy rain and strong winds from Port Macquarie through to Sydney and into parts of eastern Victoria.

According to reports, this combination could bring about first true East Coast Low since 2022 — a type of storm known for its ferocity and unpredictability. They form quickly, hit hard, and often catch people off guard due to their concentrated damage zones.

What does this mean for Sydney?

Unfortunately, if you're in Sydney, expect to be at the centre of the chaos. The city is forecast to receive between 50 to 90mm of rain on Tuesday alone, with wet and windy conditions continuing through Wednesday.  Wave heights are also expected to reach up to 10 metres, with coastal erosion and dangerous surf likely. In other words: stay indoors, light a candle, work your way through your June watch list.

What actually is a cyclone 'bomb'?

A "cyclone bomb" or "bomb cyclone"  is a weather event that intensifies very quickly. Put simply, it means the air pressure in the storm drops dramatically, causing the storm to become much stronger in a short time, bringing intense winds, heavy rain, and rough seas.

In this case, the low-pressure system approaching Australia is expected to meet these criteria. It sounds dramatic, but it’s really just a technical term meteorologists use to describe how explosively powerful the storm becomes, and isn't necessarily cause for (too much) concern.

Feature image via Pinterest.