Insane polar blast and rain to strike Australia this week

Australians are in for another chilly week as a cold front brings below-average temperatures to parts of the southeast, and Western Australia, with damaging winds and thunderstorms forecast.

The front will bring icy conditions to WA on Wednesday before moving over to the southeast later in the week.

Parts of South Australia and Melbourne are set to be hit the hardest by the miserable weather, while Sydneysiders can expect a dry but cool week ahead.

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist, Christie Johnson, said southwestern WA and the Pilbara region could cop heavy rain between 15mm and 40mm this week.

‘That system is expected to be reasonably strong and will bring showers, thunderstorms, possibly even some severe thunderstorms, damaging wind gusts and fairly widespread rainfall across much of western and southern WA,’ she said in a weather update on Monday.

Ms Johnson also confirmed Tuesday night would be a frosty one for much of the country.

‘We are expecting a cold night,’ she said.

‘We could see the risk of frost through many states overnight.’

She said minimum temperatures would likely be down in the low single digits for much of the country.

Fellow meteorologist Dean Narramore said there would be showers and gusty winds across Tasmania, Victoria and southern parts of SA on Tuesday.

‘Snow will also develop about the alpine areas. Elsewhere will remain dry,’ he said.

Mr Narramore said welcome rain is forecast for parts of the country as the week progresses, except of most of New South Wales which will for the most part escape the showers.

‘Showers, gusty winds and cooler conditions will continue across Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia on Wednesday, with snow above the alpine areas,’ he said.

‘Showers and patchy rain will also develop across northern and eastern Queensland, as a trough deepens there.’

Widespread rain and icy conditions are also expected in WA. 

‘Thursday will see this widespread rain, isolated thunderstorms and strong winds spreads across much of WA as the front moves eastwards,’ the meteorologist said.

‘Rain will also continue across eastern Queensland and will move into northern east NSW.

‘In the southeast of the country, conditions will ease and a high pressure system moves in.’

Perth will cop some heavy rainfall this week, with up to 15mm forecast for Wednesday and 25mm for Thursday.

The rain is set to ease in the WA capital by Friday.

Sydney is set to miss the worst of the bad weather, with a dry and sunny week ahead.

Tuesday will see tops of 19C while Wednesday is set to be warmer with a maximum of 21C forecast.

Those living in Melbourne are in for a colder week with a top of just 15C forecast for Tuesday and 14C for Wednesday.

Rain is expected later in the week in the Victorian capital.

Adelaide will be drenched with heavy rainfall this week, with up to 25mm possible to fall on Tuesday alone.

Up to 15mm is expected on Wednesday, with the rain to continue well into the weekend.

Canberra is in for an icy week with lows of -1C forecast on Thursday and Friday, with the nation’s capital to stay relatively dry and sunny.

Hobart will be mostly dry this week with maximum temperatures to linger around the low teens.

Up north in Brisbane, conditions will be much warmer with tops of 24C forecast for Wednesday and 22C on Thursday.

Darwin will be dry and hot with temperatures to stay in the early 30s.