Large swathes of Australia hit with heavy rainfall and chilly conditions

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It has been a cold and wet start to July for most of the country as a large cloud band intensifies over central Australia.

The unseasonable system is bringing low temperatures, heavy rainfall and possible flooding to outback areas of Western Australia, Northern Territory and South Australia.

The heaviest falls are expected around Queensland's north-west.

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The cold weather will continue into next week as the cloud band forms a "deep upper trough" and moves across the interior to the east.

Cold maximum temperatures 10-15 degrees below average are expected in western Queensland and New South Wales.

It comes as Alice Springs rounded out the last month of June with a maximum temperature of just 8.7 degrees on Friday, the coldest day of any month since 2014 and 11 degrees below average.

The cloud band is also bringing "unseasonal rain" across the north, Weatherzone said.

Melbourne can expect a slight shower today, with a top of 14 degrees.

Sydney is expected to reach 17 degrees, Brisbane 22, Perth 19, Hobart 14, Canberra 14 and Darwin 31.

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