New Year’s Eve could be a wet one for parts of eastern Australia, with more severe weather forecast for the weekend.

The Bureau of Meteorology said widespread showers and possibly thunderstorms were set to return to NSW and Queensland from Friday.

North-east NSW will bear the brunt of the rain in that state, with isolated and possibly severe thunderstorms into Sunday.

Scattered showers are forecast for the remainder of the coast, with the chance of storms.

Queensland is also expected to be hit by wet weather, with isolated showers and thunderstorms forecast across much of the state on Saturday, apart from the far south-west.

“Severe thunderstorms are possible … between St Lawrence and Redcliffe, although activity will not be as widespread compared to previous days,” senior meteorologist Sarah Scully said.

Isolated gusty thunderstorms are also possible over western South Australia.

Showers and storms were a chance in parts of southern and eastern Australia on Friday, mainly NSW, eastern South Australia, and northern Victoria, Scully said.

There was a risk of severe thunderstorms about Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Hunter regions.

“Severe thunderstorms will become more widespread from this weekend,” she said.

“The focus areas will be northeast NSW and southeast and central Queensland.

“There are indications that isolated, very dangerous thunderstorms with destructive winds, giant hail and intense rainfall may be possible across southeast Queensland on Saturday.”

Storms and flash flooding across south-east Queensland have claimed seven lives since Christmas and caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure.

Thousands of people remain without power in dangerous heatwave conditions not expected to ease until Saturday.

Wild weather has also ravaged NSW and Victoria, with three people killed by flash flooding and a falling branch on Boxing Day.