Skip to content

Australia: Extreme weather in pictures

Following months of severe drought, parts of eastern Australia have been hit by flooding and hailstorms after dust storms swept though drought-stricken areas.

Marcia Macmillan / AFP A child running towards a dust storm in Mullengudgery in New South WalesMarcia Macmillan / AFP
A dust storm hits Mullengudgery in New South Wales.
BBC Presentational white space
AFP Storm clouds gather over Sydney Harbour on January 20AFP
Storm clouds gather over Sydney Harbour.
BBC Presentational white space
Getty Images Rain begins to fall on drought and fire-ravaged country near Tamworth, New South WalesGetty Images
Heavy rain falls on drought-hit areas in New South Wales such as Tamworth, leading to flooding in some areas.
BBC Presentational white space
Getty Images A car is seen travelling through flooded streets in Surry Hills, Sydney. 20 JanGetty Images
In Sydney, streets have been flooded.
BBC Presentational white space
Australian Reptile Park / AFP A staff member carrying koalas during a flash flood at the Australian Reptile Park in Somersby, north of Sydney. 17 JanAustralian Reptile Park / AFP
At the Australian Reptile Park in Somersby, north of Sydney, a staff member carries koalas during a flash flood.
BBC Presentational white space
Joanne Carvolth / Reuters In this still image taken from video, hail falls in Canberra. 20 JanJoanne Carvolth / Reuters
Meanwhile, the capital Canberra faced a hailstorm.
BBC Presentational white space
Getty Images Golf ball-sized hail is shown at Parliament House in Canberra on January 20Getty Images
Giant hail fell outside Parliament House in Canberra.
BBC Presentational white space
EPA A man holds golf ball-size hail at Parliament House after a severe hail storm hit CanberraEPA
It was the size of golf balls.
BBC Presentational white space
EPA People look at hail stones on the ground after a severe hail storm at Parliament HouseEPA
The ice melted quickly after the storm.
BBC Presentational white space
EPA Damaged cars are seen parked outside Old Parliament House after a hail storm hit CanberraEPA
The aftermath left broken windows and left some cars with minor damage to windscreens and bodywork.

All photographs copyrighted as marked