Much of the country has enjoyed some late autumn blue skies bringing sunshine and mild days. But forecasters have warned it won’t last with multiple substantial cold fronts on the way for southern states and a “polar blast” behind that, which could bring some wild weather to the east coast next week. “There’s a fair bit of cold air with those systems, combining with a little bit of tropical moisture, which is helping a band of rain roll right across southern parts of Australia, followed by showers and a notable drop in temperatures,” said Sky News Weather meteorologist Rob Sharpe. For the weekend, much of the east should remain dry – get out and enjoy it – but in Western Australia, double cold fronts will bring rain and send the mercury plummeting. Temperatures could drop by six to nine degrees from Saturday to Monday. WA could shiver through its most freezing morning on Tuesday; it may even snow on the Stirling Ranges.
Double cold fronts set to hit WA
The clouds are already building, and the first cold front should hit Perth later on Saturday, with the second not far behind arriving on Sunday. Rain from the northwest will mix with the acts aiding in the formation of thunderstorms. “Most areas are looking at a temperature drop of about six to nine degrees by Monday afternoon, so much colder weather is on the way,” said Mr. Sharpe—a maximum of 22C in Perth on Saturday with 25mm of rain and a possible storm. On Sunday, the mercury will top out a 19C with a low of 10C and some heavy showers. More rain on Monday, with a high of 17C in the WA capital. Inland areas such as Kalgoorlie and Albany could see temperatures struggling to reach even 15C on Monday.
Polar blast expected next week
Those fronts will then track across the Nullarbor, delivering rain and a temperature drop to Adelaide on Tuesday morning, Melbourne on Tuesday night, and overnight into Wednesday for Hobart. “It will be notably cooler into Tuesday afternoon and, by the time we get to Wednesday, a big drop in temperatures as an extra cold front moves through,” said Mr. Sharpe. “But it doesn’t stop there. It will become even colder for the southeast by Friday and next weekend. We won’t just have a south-westerly change but a southerly change behind that.”
That southerly change is the “polar blast” rising from around Antarctica. The chilly weather will extend up the east coast into New South Wales and even Queensland. And it could be a fierce weather system delivering damaging winds and heavy rain. However, as this forecast is almost a week out, things could change, so keep an eye on weather updates—a pleasant 24-25C in Adelaide for the next few days with lows of around 15C. The rain comes sweeping in on Tuesday when the highs drop to 19C and then 16C on Wednesday. Expect maximums of 20C in Melbourne and lows of 7-10C for the weekend and early next week.
The drop in temperatures will come on Wednesday when 15C will be high. Showers are possible from Tuesday onwards as the cold front emerges. Slightly chiller in Hobart with maximums of 18-20C until Tuesday. Some rain comes in late on Tuesday, and then showers here and there until Thursday. A high of 15C on Wednesday and then 13C on Thursday. Mild in Canberra, with highs of 17C on a sunny weekend and a low of zero first thing Sunday morning. Wednesday could see some showers with the mercury dipping to 14C.
