HIGH pressure systems to the south of Australia brought settled conditions with little rain across most of the country, while south-easterly airflow resulted in scattered showers along the east coast early in the week.

A low pressure system off the east coast brought showers and rain over large areas of eastern Australia between the 15th and 17th, followed by a low pressure trough off the New South Wales coast on the 18th, which brought heavy rainfall in the Hunter and Sydney Metro districts. Isolated pockets in south-eastern Queensland and along parts of the New South Wales coast recorded more than 50 mm for the week, and coastal areas of Hunter and Sydney Metro districts recorded more than 100 mm.

A strong cold front crossed south-eastern Australia on the 16th and 17th bringing rain and showers, with weekly totals up to 25 mm in western Tasmania but mostly less than 10 mm in South Australia and Victoria.

The highest daily total (at a Bureau gauge) was 126.0 mm at Morriset (Balcolin Bay St) (NSW) in the 24 hours to 9 am on 19 May and the highest weekly total (at a Bureau gauge) was 178.0 mm at Swansea (Catherine St) (NSW).