Rough end looms: wintry weather to lash south-eastern Australia
A burst of wintry weather is set to hit south-eastern Australia this weekend, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting rain, hail, and even snow in some regions.
New South Wales is in for a wet and blustery end to the weekend, according to senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury. A combination of heavy rainfall and gusty winds will target the state’s south coast on Sunday before moving north toward the Central Coast on Monday and Tuesday, creating hazardous driving and surf conditions.
Sydney can expect temperatures of 21C on Saturday and a cooler 18C on Sunday. Showers are likely both days, with a chance of thunderstorms near the coast on Sunday.
In Melbourne, Saturday will bring a high of 14C with a strong chance of showers, while Sunday will start with morning frost and reach a high of 15C.
Winds across NSW’s south coast are expected to strengthen on Sunday, with gusts between 70 and 90km/h. These conditions will extend to the Central Coast by Monday, possibly continuing into Tuesday. The heaviest rainfall is forecast for the Hunter and Central Coast regions, with some areas expected to receive over 150mm across two days.
Victoria and Tasmania will also feel the brunt of a strong cold front, which will deliver a wintry surge and maximum temperatures in the low teens. “It’s going to be a very, very chilly weekend,” Bradbury said, noting many areas may see their coldest day of the year so far. Snow and hail are possible, especially from Sunday night, with widespread overnight lows under 5C. Regional parts of Victoria, Tasmania, and southern South Australia could see the mercury fall below zero.
Hobart is forecast to reach 11C on Saturday and 13C on Sunday, with snow possible above 500 metres. In Victoria, snow could fall as low as 1,000 metres, including potential flurries in the Grampians.
South Australia, still experiencing unusually dry conditions, will see limited rainfall—mostly under 15mm and restricted to coastal areas. “Unfortunately, there’s little relief for the very dry regions in the east and south-east,” Bradbury said. She added that strong winds are needed to disperse a toxic algal bloom persisting along the coastline since March. Saturday may bring the best chance for this, with southerly winds forecast in southern and coastal SA.
Adelaide will see highs of 17C both days, with showers clearing by Sunday for mostly sunny skies.
South-east Queensland will have a damp start to the weekend, with showers and possible storms on Saturday before clearing in the afternoon. Brisbane is expected to reach 26C both days, with a high chance of showers Saturday, easing by Sunday.
In contrast, Western Australia will continue its stretch of warm, settled weather. “The south-west of WA is still sitting 2 to 5 degrees above average,” Bradbury said. Perth is set for sunny skies and highs of 26C on Saturday and 27C on Sunday, continuing into next week.
Darwin remains hot and dry, with a forecast top of 32C. Canberra will see a shift from 18C on Saturday down to a chilly 13C on Sunday.
