By Georgina Mitchell
Sydney can expect warm temperatures and plenty of sunshine this weekend, as the city prepares to host the NRL grand final.
Storms on Thursday and partial cloud on Friday and Saturday will clear to blue skies on Sunday, as the Storm meet Cronulla at ANZ Stadium.
According to Jacob Cronje, a senior meteorologist at Fairfax Media's Weatherzone, the weather will be ideal.
"Sunday is going to be a lovely day in Sydney, a better game day could not have been asked for," Mr Cronje said.
"We're looking at a top of 27 to 28 degrees, clear skies and relatively calm winds."
Melburnians, however, will not be so lucky, with overcast skies and showers predicted on Saturday for the grand final AFL clash between Sydney and the Western Bulldogs.
The city will have received 15mm of rain by Saturday morning, with showers expected to recede just before midday.
This will leave the ground soggy for the mid-afternoon kickoff.
Unwelcome rain will also be felt across parts of NSW, Victoria and South Australia which have experienced serious flooding.
South-western NSW, where much of Forbes is inundated, can expect 15 to 20mm before the weekend, while the state's south-west slopes will see 30 to 40mm on Thursday and Friday.