Thunderstorms Sweep Across Australia’s Bushfire-Ravaged East Coast

An aerial view as rain begins to fall on drought and fire-ravaged country near Tamworth ahead of predicted further wet weather across NSW and Victoria this week in Tamworth, Australia, on Jan. 15, 2020. Brook Mitchell/Getty Images

MELBOURNE—Thunderstorms and heavy rain swept across parts of Australia’s east coast on Thursday, bringing hope that some of the fierce bushfires razing the country will be extinguished or at least slowed.

Officials warned, however, that short, intense thunderstorms could lead to flash flooding, while lightning brought the risk of new fires being ignited.