These air masses and low pressure systems on a broader scale are one of the factors that drive the North West Monsoon of Northern Australia. Later in Summer monsoonal cloud masses themselves commonly contain numerous embedded thunderstorms. These storms are usually very small and brief. Small hail is common in these storms. Probably the most common thunderstorm situation in southern Australia are storms associated with low pressure troughs, the warmer and mostly moister eastern side of the trough usually produces far more storms.
Frontal storms occur in all southern states.
In the south east states during Spring and Summer these are commonly associated with cold fronts typically wedged between two high pressure systems, storm activity will generally clear almost immediately after passage of the front. Occasionally frontal storms may occur with strong winter fronts, even on the Snowy Mountains. In Western Australia during winter frontal storms often occur with fronts coming in off the Indian Ocean, some of these can bring severe weather. Nocturnal equatorial storms are common in the Darwin area, these are most frequent near dawn. Severe storms can occur in many parts of Australia, however the western slopes and tablelands of the Great Dividing range in New South Wales and Victoria, and east coast areas from New South Wales to southern Queensland tend to experience the more powerful storms.