A coastal trough and upper low combined with a very moist onshore flow brought persistent heavy rainfall to much of central and eastern New South Wales, eastern Victoria and Tasmania between 20 and 24 May.

Weekly rainfall totals greater than 100 mm were recorded along most of coastal New South Wales and adjacent inland areas. Isolated pockets in the Illawarra and Central Tablelands districts recorded more than 150 mm, and large parts of the Hunter and Mid North Coast districts recoded totals in excess of 200 mm.

Major to record flooding occurred in some catchments in eastern New South Wales.

A weak cold front moved over southern Australia during the week, bringing light to moderate rainfall mostly to south-west Western Australia and western Tasmania.

Weekly rainfall totals between 25 and 50 mm were recorded in parts of the central and eastern New South Wales, Tasmania, eastern Victoria, coastal areas of south-west Western Australia and Kangaroo Island in South Australia, with weekly totals up to 100 mm in areas of western and southern Tasmania.

On 25 May, a large upper trough brought widespread rain, showers and thunderstorms to parts of Western Australia’s Kimberley district with weekly rainfall totals between 15 and 25 mm.

The highest confirmed daily total (at a Bureau gauge) was 337.0 mm at Promised Land (Cristal Creek) (NSW) in the 24 hours to 9 am on 22 May and the highest weekly total (at a Bureau gauge) was 705.0 mm at Comboyne (Public School) (NSW).