Many Australians were experiencing a bittersweet break from the threat of bush fires on Thursday, with flooding rains deluging some parts of the eastern states and a tropical cyclone forecast to hit the country's northwest over the weekend.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued severe thunderstorm warnings for the southeast Queensland state and a flood alert for more than 20 areas in New South Wales after the start of heavy rainfall that is expected to continue for several days.
Cricket Australia said a bush-fire fundraising match that was set to be played in Sydney on Saturday had to be rescheduled for Melbourne on Sunday because of the rain.