THE ACT will start the New Year with a cloudy day, a 10 per cent chance of any rain and a maximum of 25C.

However, despite similar temperatures, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are forecast to have increasing chances of rain between 70 and 80 per cent, of up to 15mm.

For Canberra New Year’s Eve revellers, there’s the forecast of a slight chance of a shower, most likely in the evening. Nationally, AAP is reporting that severe thunderstorms are forecast for parts of eastern Australia across the weekend, including on New Year’s Eve.

The Bureau of Meteorology says widespread showers and possibly thunderstorms are set to return to NSW and Queensland from Friday.

North-east NSW will bear the brunt of the rain in that state, with isolated and possibly severe thunderstorms into Sunday.

Scattered showers are forecast for the remainder of the coast, with the chance of storms.

Queensland is also expected to be hit by wet weather, with isolated showers and thunderstorms forecast across much of the state on Saturday, apart from the far south west.

“Severe thunderstorms are possible… between St Lawrence and Redcliffe, although activity will not be as widespread compared to previous days,” according to senior meteorologist Sarah Scully.

Isolated gusty thunderstorms are also possible over western SA.

Showers and storms are a chance across parts of southern and eastern Australia on Friday, mainly NSW, eastern SA, and northern Victoria, Ms Scully said.

There is a risk of severe thunderstorms about Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Hunter regions.

“Severe thunderstorms will become more widespread from this weekend,” she said.

“The focus areas will be north-east NSW and south-east and central Queensland.

“There are indications that isolated, very dangerous thunderstorms with destructive winds, giant hail and intense rainfall may be possible across southeast Queensland on Saturday.”

Storms and flash flooding across southeast Queensland have claimed seven lives since Christmas and caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure.

Thousands of people remain without power in dangerous heatwave conditions not expected to ease until Saturday.

Wild weather has also ravaged NSW and Victoria, with three people killed by flash flooding and a falling branch on Boxing Day.