Australia is set to experience a spectacular Easter long weekend, with most capitals enjoying warm and sunny weather before rain arrives in the eastern states early next week.
Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney are all forecast to have pleasant conditions throughout the long weekend. “It’s going to be a fantastic Easter for many,” said Dean Narramore, senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology. “This is a welcome change after a rainy Christmas for much of the south-east.”
The only regions expecting rain are northern and western Queensland and the Northern Territory, which is typical for the end of the wet season.
This positive outlook follows a period of extremely dry and warm weather in southern and western Australia. The mainland interior and tropical north will experience storms, continuing an unusually wet start to autumn, according to Narramore.
Melbourne faces potential storms on Monday; otherwise, pleasant conditions across most Australian cities this weekend.Inland New South Wales will see temperatures in the low 30s, while the east will reach the high 20s. Sydney will be sunny with temperatures in the high 20s. Victoria’s northern areas are expected to hit the low 30s with plenty of sunshine, though Melbourne may see showers and storms on Monday.
“The next weather system will move to the southeastern parts of the country on Monday, bringing showers and thunderstorms to parts of Victoria and potentially Melbourne,” Narramore warned. March has been very dry in Melbourne, recording only 2.8mm of rain, so the rain could be beneficial.
New South Wales and southern Queensland will experience wet weather on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Brisbane should stay mostly fine with a chance of showers, while temperatures will be in the low 30s inland and high 20s on the coast. Northern and western Queensland will face showers and storms.
In South Australia, Adelaide is forecast to reach 30°C on Saturday and 28°C on Sunday, with showers and storms expected later in the week. Perth will remain dry with temperatures ranging from the high 20s to mid-30s.
Tasmania will have a pleasant Easter with temperatures in the teens to low 20s. The Northern Territory will see temperatures in the low 30s and widespread thunderstorms. The Australian Capital Territory will enjoy sunshine and temperatures in the high 20s.