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Byron Shire
October 20, 2026

NYE and January 1 weather

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Senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, Miriam Bradbury. Image BoM.

The weather forecast is for a warm New Year’s Eve for most parts of Australia, but a little cooler along the east coast, where there is the chance of some showers and thunderstorms bringing heavy falls. The east coast capitals should avoid the worst of it.

The Bureau of Meteorology. Image BoM.

Showers and thunderstorms

 early this morning said New Year’s Eve, it will be dry and settled for the south east states today and across the southwest of the country. ‘Showers and thunderstorms do continue, however, across parts of the tropical north, with more humid conditions as well for New Year’s Day, cooler with a few showers for far south east Australia, with the risk of storms continuing along the east coast, drier, with thunderstorms possibly impacting parts of the west coast as well.’

Generally warm New Year’s Eve

Bradbury said New South Wales can expect a generally warm New Year’s Eve, humid along the coast, with temperatures in the mid to low 30s. ‘Storms through North East New South Wales, including the northern ranges, slopes and North West Plains, may become severe with the risk of heavy falls and dangerous driving conditions later today, damaging wind gusts and large hail are also possible with severe storms, but heavy rain is the greatest risk.

‘Drier conditions are forecast inland, with daytime temperatures reaching the mid to high 30s.’

‘We’ll see low 20s for New Year’s Day across New South Wales, mild to warm conditions, with showers and storms continuing in the east, most frequent through the north east, the majority of southern and western inland New South Wales will remain dry.’

Queensland storms

Bradbury said Queensland can expect a storm on New Year’s Eve for many areas, particularly through the south east. ‘Through those South East areas, cloudy conditions will keep things fairly mild, but severe storms may bring heavy rain to the scenic rim, the Darling Downs and granite belts, the southern Wide Bay and Burnet area and parts of the Central Highlands and coalfields and the Maranoa and warriorgo districts at this stage, the more populated centers in the far south east, including Brisbane, the Gold Coast and The Sunshine Coast are likely to avoid the worst of the Severe Storm Risk, although non severe storms may still be on the radar.

‘For the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Brisbane about the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, conditions will be mild and humid, with partly cloudy skies and a possible shower or two, but this will ease towards midnight. More scattered showers in the odd thunderstorm are possible through the afternoon and evening, most likely inland, but again, these should ease towards midnight, and by 12am midnight, temperatures around Brisbane City will be in the low 20s for New Year’s Day across Queensland.

‘Showers and thunderstorms will become more extensive through southern and central parts of the state, with the risk of severe storms continuing in some areas, showers and storms will continue right up the east coast and in the north as well, with the only dry parts of the state likely to be the far north west.’

You can find all the latest information at www.bom.gov.au via the Bom weather app or through our social media channels.



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