Australia weather today: heavy rain in Alice Springs, wet Brisbane

The big weather story in Australia on Wednesday 28 October is heavy rain in the Red Centre, where Alice Springs is forecast to see about 25.2 mm. Rain also falls along much of Queensland’s coast and across the Top End, while the south is mostly dry and settled. A wetter change then spreads across the south-east by Saturday 31 October.

Heavy rain in Alice Springs and the Northern Territory

Alice Springs is the standout today. Heavy rain is expected, and it is warm at 32°C with a mild overnight low of 17°C. Showers could also bring more rain to nearby areas than to the town itself, so conditions can vary over short distances.

Up north, Darwin stays hot and wet at 33°C, with rain today and showers possible nearby. That is typical of the build-up to the wet season, with the warmth keeping the air humid and unsettled.

Queensland weather: rain from Brisbane to Cairns

Brisbane has rain today, about 5.7 mm, with a high of 28°C. The Gold Coast is similar, with 4.5 mm and a high of 25°C. Further north, Townsville has light showers and Cairns has rain, both with warm, sticky nights above 22°C.

Cairns stays wet through the whole period, so anyone planning to be outdoors there should expect repeated showers rather than one single downpour.

New South Wales, ACT, Victoria and Tasmania

Sydney is mostly sunny and dry with a high of 23°C, though wind of 34 km/h makes it feel fresher on the coast. Newcastle sees only light showers. Canberra is sunny but cool at 17°C, with a cold start of 4°C.

Melbourne is cloudy at 17°C, with only a trace of rain and the chance of showers nearby. Hobart is also cloudy, at 16°C, with wind of 30 km/h.

South Australia and Western Australia

Adelaide is mostly sunny and dry but cool at 16°C, with a chilly morning of 6°C. Perth is the warm spot in the south, cloudy but dry at 28°C. Broome is hotter, at 31°C, with no rain expected today.

The next few days: a rain band reaches the south-east

Thursday 29 October is a quieter day for most of the east, with Brisbane and Sydney mostly sunny. Alice Springs stays heavy-rainy, with about 21.6 mm and a cooler 24°C high. Rain there eases on Friday 30 October, and Saturday 31 October is mostly sunny.

On Friday 30 October Adelaide turns wet and warms to 26°C, while Melbourne reaches 25°C under fog. Then on Saturday 31 October the rain spreads east. Melbourne gets heavy rain of about 21.4 mm, Canberra about 14.7 mm, Sydney 8.5 mm and Perth 6.0 mm. Hobart and Newcastle have rain too, while Darwin and Cairns stay wet all the way through.

What it means for you

• In Alice Springs, allow extra time for travel and take care near creeks and low-lying roads when heavy rain falls.
• In Brisbane and the Gold Coast, carry a rain jacket today, then enjoy a drier Thursday 29 October.
• Cool mornings in Canberra and Adelaide call for an extra layer before the day warms up.
• If you have outdoor plans on Saturday 31 October in Melbourne, Canberra or Sydney, have a wet-weather option ready.

Today city by city

Forecast retrieved 27 October 2026, 19:31 UTC for 14 cities across Australia, each checked with four points about 30 km around it. Days are local time. Live forecasts for any city: weatherforecast.site.