Aussie weather watchers spot epic ‘spaceship’ cloud over Cronulla Beach as wild weather rages across east coast

Eagle-eyed Aussie weather watchers have captured a remarkable “spaceship” cloud formation at one of Sydney’s most iconic beaches, as wild weather continues to batter multiple states.

Harry Reay, posting to the Weather Obsessed Facebook page on Tuesday, recorded a massive spaceship-shaped cloud hanging over the ocean off Cronulla Beach.

One fellow weather watcher was quick to label it a “mothership”.

“The mothership going by the size … next we will be seeing UFOs, orbs and drones,” the person wrote.

The cloud captured in the footage appears to be a lenticular cloud – which forms when air is lifted over an elevated area and a wave is formed in the flow, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

It comes as heavy rain smashed Queensland over Wednesday, leading to flash flooding

Elsewhere, floods and rain smashed Queensland across Wednesday.

The rain stopped play in the cricket Test match between India and Australia at Brisbane’s Gabba and more rain is expected in the Sunshine State over the next few days.

“Rain and thunderstorms have drenched eastern Queensland throughout the first half of this week as onshore winds fed moisture into a low pressure system and associated trough,” Weatherzone said.

“The heaviest falls from the past week have targeted the state’s southeast, where some places received more than 200mm.

“With this onshore flow forecast to persist for the rest of this week, eastern Queensland can expect to see more wet and stormy weather in the coming days.

“This rain will be enhanced by a low pressure trough moving from Cape York Peninsula towards the North Tropical Coast between Wednesday and Friday.

“Some models suggest that this trough could even spawn a low pressure system off the state’s northeast coast, which would further enhance rainfall in the region.”

Christmas

Christmas is just around the corner, and while the day is usually filled with gifts and plenty of food, it can be difficult to make plans without knowing what the weather will be like.

For the majority of Australia, it will be a sunny and bright day for Christmas, with mild temperatures and a slight chance of rain or storms.

While the temperatures won’t reach the extremes seen during the oppressive heatwave that has recently swept the nation, conditions will be warm enough to spend the day outside.

“It will be a perfect day for outdoor activities,” Sky Weather meteorologist Rob Sharpe said. “Barbecue, beach trips and backyard cricket all look pretty good this time around.”

The sunny conditions are being driven by a high pressure system in the southern regions of the country, keeping the air dry and free from rain and moisture for most capital cities.

Conditions across the country are expected to be a mixed bag on Christmas Eve, with Western Australia likely to be warm with a maximum temperature of 34C in Perth.

On the other side of the country, residents can expect much milder conditions, with the chance of morning showers in Melbourne and Hobart and temperatures in the mid- to high 20s.

The bright and sunny weather is expected to stretch from eastern Western Australia into the nation’s centre on Christmas Day, with a broad mass of hot air creating ideal conditions in the majority of Australia’s capital cities.

Temperatures are expected to range from the mid-to-high 20s and pushing into the 30s, with Adelaide reporting the highest anticipated temperatures of 35C.

While it will be dry for most of the country, there is a chance of rain and potential thunderstorms in northern parts of the country, particularly in the Northern Territory and parts of Queensland, including Brisbane.

Boxing Day forecast

Forecasters expect the heat will get turned up on Boxing Day as warmth from the country’s centre shifts south.

“That looks like the scorcher for many,” Mr Sharpe said.

South Australia is set to bear the brunt of the Boxing Day heat, with the mercury expected to skyrocket to 39C there and 37C in Melbourne, just in time for the Boxing Day test match.

Christmas Day across the capitals

Skies will be partly cloudy in Brisbane on Christmas Day, with a slight chance of a shower and onshore winds keeping conditions cooler, reaching a top of 28C.

It will be a dry and warm day for Sydney, with sunny skies and a maximum temperature of 27C.

Residents in Melbourne can expect a sunny and mild day, with winds keeping the air cool at a maximum temperature of 27C.

The forecast for Adelaide on Christmas Day is bright and sunny, with warmer-than-expected conditions driven by the hot air mass stretching from WA and a maximum temperature of 33C.

Perth residents will face a cool change on Christmas Eve, pushing the heat easterly and possibly bringing a shower and cloudy skies, reaching a top of 25C on Christmas Day.

Conditions will be cool in Hobart, with a cold front bringing clouds and a slight chance of rain, with a maximum temperature of 21C.

In Darwin, conditions will be hot and wet, with a chance of thunderstorms and showers, and a top of 33C.

Conditions will be warm and sunny in Canberra, driven by a high-pressure system near SA, and a maximum temperature of 30C.