Persistent Rainfall in Central and Northern Australia

Under the combined influence of a low-pressure system and an upper-level trough (Figure 1), the central and northern region of Australia will experience persistent rainfall from February 23 to 27. Regions including northern South Australia, western New South Wales, northern Western Australia, the Northern Territory, as well as Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and the South Island of New Zealand, will experience moderate to heavy rain, with localized heavy downpours or intense rain. The cumulative rainfall in these areas is anticipated to range from 50 to 150 mm, with some areas exceeding 200 mm (Figure 2). This will be accompanied by winds of 5 to 6 on the Beaufort scale, with gusts reaching 7 to 9. Attention should be given to the potential for secondary disasters such as flash floods and urban waterlogging caused by the heavy rainfall.

Figure 1  500 hPa Geopotential Height (units: dagpm) and 850 hPa Wind Field (units: m/s) at 20:00 (Beijing Time) on February 23, 2026

Figure 2  Accumulated Precipitation(units: mm) from 08:00 on February 23, 2026, to 08:00 on February 27, 2026 (Beijing Time)

https://www.wmc-bj.net

Author: Hu Yi                                 Reviewer: Ma Jie 

English reviewer:Wang Yi                                                                       Issue approver:Dai Kan