Freezing polar blast about to strike Australia this week

By Eliza Mcphee For Daily Mail Australia

03:27 17 Jun 2024, updated 05:01 17 Jun 2024

Australians are in for a chilly week with temperatures set to be up to 4C lower than average for some capital cities.

A cold front has reached South Australia and will move east across the country in coming days, bringing icy mornings and even colder nights.

The coldest mornings for Sydney and Melbourne are expected to be on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Sydney has a low of just 6C forecast for Wednesday while Melbourne could be as cold as 3C.

on Monday, Yunta, in SA’s southeast, experienced its coldest morning in four years at -4.8C.

Even Cairns in Far North Queensland suffered a drop in temperature, recording 12C before 7am on Monday – its coldest morning in two years. 

Temperatures could dip below -5C in some parts of the southeast between Tuesday morning and Thursday morning, according to Weatherzone. 

‘The temperatures are going to be generally well below average overnight and a bit below average during the day,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.

‘In Melbourne, Sydney and Bankstown you’re looking at about 2C to 4C below average later this week and it could get colder.’

On Thursday, Melbourne will reach a top of just 12C with rain forecast, while Adelaide will have a maximum of 15C with rain also predicted. 

‘It’s going to be feeling pretty cold,’ Ms Miskelly said.

The weekend is also looking to be brisk for Sydney with tops of just 17C forecast, although the sun is expected to be out for the week with dry conditions expected.

The meteorologist said while the conditions weren’t ‘extreme’, they are prolonged, meaning Aussies can expect to spend the week rugged up by the heater.

Those living in the nation’s capital are also looking at some freezing conditions this week, with Canberra to be as cold as -1C on Tuesday and -3C on Wednesday.

Canberra will reach a top of 13C this weekend.

Brisbane will also see some chilly mornings, although temperatures are set to linger around the low 20s in the daytimes.

The Queensland capital will see a low of 8C on Tuesday.

Further south in Tasmania, Hobart will see its warmest day on Thursday with a top of 17C.

Minimum temperatures will linger around 4C and 5C throughout the week in the Tasmanian capital.

Perth will be dry and sunny with maximum temperatures to linger in the high teens.

The WA capital’s coldest day will be on Thursday with a minimum of 7C forecast.

Darwin will meanwhile escape the cold weather with temperatures remaining in the low 30s.

Minimum conditions will see some mornings drop to 17C in the Northern Territory.