Severe storms, Cup track risk as rain sweeps east

Severe thunderstorms and widespread rain are set to lash large parts of Australia, bringing the chance of more destruction, drenchings and icy conditions into next week.

A rain band, stretching from Tasmania to the tip of the Northern Territory, is set to sweep east across six Australian jurisdictions from Monday into Tuesday, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

"With this band of rain, fuelled by that tropical moisture moving eastwards, it could bring a risk of storms to many areas," senior meteorologist Angus Hines said.

Thunderstorms have been forecast from the tropical north to southern Australia, with inland parts of southern and central Queensland, inland parts of northern NSW, Sydney and southern NSW at risk of severe systems.

Between 30 to 50mm of rain could fall in southern Austra