A polar blast and a rain bomb will send temperatures plummeting this weekend, with frosty conditions forecast for large areas of the eastern states from Queensland’s southeast to Tasmania.
Australians in their millions will likely be pulling on their puffer jackets, two weeks into winter, with some temperatures, including in Canberra, set to drop below zero.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s Angus Hines revealed what to expect from the cold snap when he appered on Sunrise on Friday.
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“A chilly stretch of weather is ahead for us — I know it’s winter, but every winter we get some particularly chilly weeks and that’s certainly what we’re looking at ahead,” Hines said.
“The cold weather is being driven by a persistent southerly wind flow all the way up the eastern side of the country. In particular, a stretch ahead of very cold night-time and early morning temperatures.
“I think Hobart in Tasmania is not looking to get above 11C or 12C for about the next eight days, with overnight minimum temperatures around 4C or 5C.
“Melbourne will be stuck at about 12C or 13C for the next several days, with minimum temperatures about 6C or 7C. Up in Canberra, the daytime temperatures could be about 13C.
“But it’s the cold nights dropping into the negatives, as low as -4C in a few days time. Sydney is seeing 16C or 17C through the days and 6C or 7C at nights.
“A touch warmer in Brisbane with daytime temperatures not below 20C but the night-time minimums, even in Queensland, around 6C or 7C.”
Sydney and Adelaide are also expecting a washout this weekend.
“Adelaide has had a bit of rain overnight, about 10mm-20mm across Adelaide in the Mount Lofty Ranges. That’s welcome rain on the back of many dry months in a row,” Hines said.
“It’s not enough to catch them up in terms of rainfall, but it’s a start and potentially more on the way, another 5mm or 10mm today and tomorrow.
“Sydney has had a lot of rain. They don’t really want any more but they’re getting some nonetheless.
“Tonight and tomorrow morning a pulse of showers could bring 20mm-30mm particularly for eastern parts near the water.”
What’s happening in your region
Saturday: 11C to 27C, with a 90 per cent chance of rain.
BOM says: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers increasing to very high along the coast, and most likely in the morning. Light winds becoming south to southwesterly 15km/h to 25km/h in the morning.
Sunday: 8C to 17C, with a 10 per cent chance of rain.
BOM says: Sunny. Winds southwesterly 15km/h to 20km/h becoming light during the afternoon. Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming, and surfing.
Saturday: 9C to 23C, with a 5 per cent chance of rain.
BOM says: Mostly sunny. Light winds.
Sunday: 9C to 21C, with a zero per cent chance of rain.
BOM says: Mostly sunny. Light winds.
Saturday: 7C to 15C, with a 5 per cent chance of rain.
BOM says: Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15km/h to 20km/h in the early afternoon, then becoming light in the late afternoon.
Sunday: 5C to 14C, with a 20 per cent chance of rain.
BOM says: Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog. Slight chance of a shower in the northwest suburbs. Light winds becoming south to southwesterly 15km/h to 25km/h during the day.
Saturday: 3C to 13C, with a 30 per cent chance of rain.
BOM says: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the early morning. Winds south to southeasterly 15km/h to 20km/h becoming light in the late afternoon.
Sunday: -1C to 12C, with a zero per cent chance of rain.
BOM says: Mostly sunny. Patches of morning frost. Light winds.
Saturday: 7C to 11C, with a 70 per cent chance of rain.
BOM says: Cloudy. High chance of showers. Winds southerly 20km/h to 30km/h.
Sunday: 7C to 11C, with an 80 per cent chance of rain.
BOM says: Cloudy. High chance of showers. Winds southerly 25km/h to 35km/h.
Saturday: 9C to 16C, with a 60 per cent chance of rain.
BOM says: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Light winds.
Sunday: 6C to 17C, with a 20 per cent chance of rain.
BOM says: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning. Light winds.
Saturday: 19C to 32C, with a zero per cent chance of rain.
BOM says: Sunny. Light winds.
Sunday: 19C to 32C, with a zero per cent chance of rain.
BOM says: Sunny. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the afternoon.
Saturday: 10C to 21C, with a 40 per cent chance of rain.
BOM says: Mostly sunny morning. Medium chance of a shower about the coast becoming slight elsewhere, most likely during the afternoon and evening. Light winds.
Sunday: 11C to 21C, with an 80 per cent chance of rain.
BOM says: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Light winds.