Southeastern Australia is experiencing a prolonged cold snap, with wintry conditions continuing into the weekend. Rain and chill are expected to persist in Victoria, New South Wales, and Western Australia.
Melbourne, recovering slightly from a frigid high of 10.1°C on Thursday—the city’s coldest day in five years—saw temperatures reach a maximum of 13°C on Friday.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued frost warnings for Victoria’s north-east and a strong wind warning for the East Gippsland coast.
In Sydney, temperatures climbed to 16.7°C on Thursday but fell to single figures overnight. By Friday, the city reached a high of 17°C with 29mm of rain recorded since 9 am.
South Australia experienced 10-22mm of rain overnight around Adelaide and the Mount Lofty Ranges, with Friday’s maximum hitting 18°C.
Persistent southerly winds keep temperatures low across southeastern Australia, with snow in high regions.Angus Hines, a senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, forecasts continued cold weather throughout the weekend. Expect widespread single-digit lows on Saturday, with some southern Queensland areas seeing temperatures as low as 0 or 1°C. Melbourne is set for a low of 7°C, Sydney and Hobart 11°C, and Adelaide 9°C.
Coastal NSW and adjacent inland ranges may see showers totaling between 20mm and 40mm. Western Australia is also expected to experience wet weather off the south-west coast.
Frost will affect southern regions and elevated parts of Queensland and New South Wales, though conditions are predicted to be sunnier on Sunday.
The cold spell is driven by a persistent southerly wind bringing frigid air from the Southern Ocean due to a developing low-pressure system in the Tasman Sea. This system is expected to remain stationary, prolonging the cold weather.
Looking ahead, the Bureau’s long-range forecast suggests a warmer trend for the rest of winter and early spring, though occasional cold outbreaks may still occur. Snowfall has recently been noted in alpine regions, but the forecast indicates minimal snow for the coming week, with conditions possibly shifting mid-week.