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Australians flock to packed beaches for a warm Christmas Day in the sun but some celebrations could be drowned out by storms – what’s the weather like in your area?

  •  Southern states enjoying a mostly warm and sunny Christmas Day
  • People have flocked to beaches or cranked up backyard barbecues 
  • South Australian bracing for peaking flood levels along the Murray

Australia’s southern states are enjoying a mostly warm and sunny Christmas Day but heavy rain and storms are threatening to dampen celebrations in the north.

People have flocked to beaches or cranked up backyard barbecues to enjoy the balmy weather but elsewhere others face anxious times due to past rains.

South Australians living along the Murray River are bracing for peaking flood levels, with residents advised to consider evacuating as the water rises to levels not seen in a century.

The peak will be lower than first predicted but thousands of properties along the Murray are still facing inundation in coming weeks.

Three women enjoying the Christmas sun are photographed in the middle of taking their own selfie

Three women enjoying the Christmas sun are photographed in the middle of taking their own selfie

Most of the capital cities are enjoying warm temperatures and clear skies for Christmas Day, with some early cloud coverage in Sydney and Hobart.

A shower or two is possible in Brisbane, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, and storms and a maximum of 33 degrees Celsius are anticipated in the Top End.

The bureau early on Sunday issued a severe weather warning of intense rainfall and high winds associated with ex-tropical cyclone Ellie as it moves south over the central Northern Territory.

It warned people in parts of Barkly, Simpson and the Tanami districts to be prepared for thunderstorms and ‘dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding’ through Sunday and into Monday.

'Say cheese'. Sun lovers are pictured enjoying Christmas Day in true Australian style

‘Say cheese’. Sun lovers are pictured enjoying Christmas Day in true Australian style

Revellers are pictured on Sydney's Bondi beach shouting out about how much they are loving Christmas Day

Revellers are pictured on Sydney’s Bondi beach shouting out about how much they are loving Christmas Day

While it's all fun and games for most people on the beach, the surf rescue volunteers (pictured) are working

While it’s all fun and games for most people on the beach, the surf rescue volunteers (pictured) are working

Red bikinis, such as those pictured above, have proven very popular on Christmas Day

Red bikinis, such as those pictured above, have proven very popular on Christmas Day

If you get to the beach early enough on Christmas Day, you can pitch a tent as the people pictured did

If you get to the beach early enough on Christmas Day, you can pitch a tent as the people pictured did

Damaging wind gusts with peaks in excess of 90km/h are possible over the Barkly district and flood watches are in place for Tennant Creek, Elliott, Ali Curung, Ampilatwatja, Barrow Creek and Renner Springs.

The NT Emergency Service is urging local residents to secure loose items around their homes, avoid driving into floodwaters, have emergency kits ready and to be prepared for power outages.

While Christmas Day is unlikely to break any temperature records, it will mark the start of a low-intensity heat wave that is expected to sit across the south of the continent, including Tasmania, until Wednesday.

Christmas Day forecasts for your capital city

Melbourne: 30C max, sunny

Sydney:  28C, Partly cloudy morning, clearing to a mostly sunny afternoon

Darwin: 33C max, high chance of showers and a chance of a thunderstorm

Canberra: 31C max, sunny

Tattooed ladies (pictured) celebrate Christmas Day on Sydney's Bondi beach

Tattooed ladies (pictured) celebrate Christmas Day on Sydney’s Bondi beach

Hobart: 25C max, partly cloudy

Adelaide: 32C max, sunny

Perth: 30C max, sunny

Brisbane: 29C max, partly cloudy and a medium chance of showers and a possible thunderstorm

Hot weather in Sydney has seen people flock to Bondi beach (pictured) in the east of the city

Hot weather in Sydney has seen people flock to Bondi beach (pictured) in the east of the city

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