Monday night saw severe weather conditions batter southern and eastern Australia as a powerful polar blast marked the end of autumn with a dramatic shift in temperatures.
Sydney experienced gusts reaching 90 km/h, causing widespread disruption as power poles and tree branches were downed.
The State Emergency Service fielded 380 assistance requests, and thousands of homes across New South Wales were left without power by Tuesday morning. Northern NSW residents were warned to brace for more damaging winds.
The intense weather also impacted Queensland’s eastern seaboard, with nearly 7,000 homes in Darling Downs and Granite Belt losing power overnight.
Snowfall hits Victoria, with alpine peaks expecting 50 cm accumulation.Melbourne faced its coldest day of the year, with temperatures struggling to reach a high of 12°C. Snowfall was reported across the alpine region, while South Australia dealt with its own set of challenges.
A tornado struck the northern suburbs of Adelaide on Monday, causing damage to power lines and recording wind gusts of 72 km/h at the airport.
Forecasts suggest that Tuesday will continue to bring chilly conditions, with temperatures expected to be 3-6°C below the May average.
Snow is likely to blanket areas as low as 600-700 meters in Victoria, Tasmania, and southeastern NSW, with significant accumulations of 20-50 cm expected on alpine peaks.
Severe weather warnings remain active across South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, eastern NSW, and parts of southern Queensland.
The Bureau of Meteorology has highlighted the potential for hazardous driving conditions due to snow and sleet, alongside large swells impacting southern Australia.
Residents are advised to prepare for possible property damage, flash flooding, and continued hazardous conditions, with an expectation of easing winds by late Wednesday.