Each year thousands of waterlogged Brits relocate to Australia in hopes of boosting their vitamin D intake and tanning on sun-drenched beaches.
However, the grass is not always greener as hapless UK expat Josh McCallion has discovered.
Josh, who now lives in Sydney, has briefed his followers on the unbelievable amount of rainfall he has experienced in his new city.
Since 2022, much of Australia has experienced record-breaking rainfall, leaving many newcomers taken aback.
“No one tells you this before moving to Australia,” Josh said in a video posted to Instagram.
“I am from the UK, known for terrible weather, and I have never experienced rain like I have since moving to Sydney. Every single time it rains, it’s a downpour. The raindrops hit you and it’s almost like you’re being shot, honestly.
UK expat Josh McCallion, now residing in Sydney, expressed that the persistent rain has been one of the most surprising and frustrating aspects of his new life.
“I’m going to the gym and it’s 400m away. It’s too wet for me to want to take my bike and I can’t walk in this, it’s ridiculous. So I’m catching the bus.”
Josh’s remarks sparked a debate among fellow expats and locals over which is worse: the heavy Australian rain or the more constant light drizzle typical of the UK.
“As an Aussie living in the UK, this is one of the things I miss. REAL rain. Not the misty rubbish you get in the UK where it feels like you’re constantly living under a damp tea towel,” one person wrote.
“When I lived in London I was like, what is wrong with your rain? I want to be soaking wet and extremely inconvenienced, not damp and mildly annoyed,” another said.
It seems like Josh is in for a rainy few days in the Harbour City with thunderstorms forecast until Friday.
There could also be flooding in parts of NSW and Queensland, the Bureau of Meteorology has warned.
Senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said rain is increasing across inland parts of NSW and Queensland and would become more widespread over the coming days as weather systems combine.
“That is two to three days of rainfall in areas that are already wet and saturated,” he said.
BOM forecasts up to 100mm of rain in large parts of NSW, and more rainfall to hit coastal areas.
“This is going to fall on already saturated soils, particularly in parts of NSW,” Mr Narramore said.
UK expat Josh McCallion, now residing in Sydney, expressed that the persistent rain has been one of the most surprising and frustrating aspects of his new life.
“We can see widespread falls across much of northern NSW in that 50 to 100mm range, with isolated falls in excess of 150mm which is why we’re concerned.
“These numbers are falling on already saturated soils, catchments, dams and rivers.
“That’s led to flood watches being issued across this area for minor to moderate flooding, particularly for some of our coastal and eastern NSW rivers.”
He said authorities were focused on residents and communities located in inland areas, the northwest slopes, flat plains, Peel River, Gwydir River and Namoi River.
“That does include places like Gunnedah that saw major flooding only just a few weeks ago,” he said.
“The Namoi is already still experiencing moderate flooding with minor flooding continuing through the Barwon River as well.”
