Some areas of Sydney, where risk of blackouts has receded, expected to see more than 100mm of rainfall, with possible storms in Canberra and Melbourne

The heatwave baking much of eastern Australia will rapidly make way for “perfect ingredients” for thunderstorms, raising risks of heavy rainfall and even flash floods.

Temperatures were due to soar towards 40C today and Wednesday in parts of western Sydney, or as much as 12C above average, the Bureau of Meteorology forecast.

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