Forecasters say the mercury could rise by up to 10C above average this weekend – but some places will see a massive drop in temperatures. Forecasters have said temperatures could soar to 10C above average in the coming days, with the “warmest weather since April” due. On a toasty weekend, Darwin is even higher, and Sydney and Brisbane could top out at or near 30C. But the warm weather will not be shared evenly, with Melbourne getting into the mid-twenties but then plunging to a high of just 14C on a chilly Sunday. It could snow on higher ground in Victoria and Tasmania. In Perth, it will struggle to get into the twenties this weekend. The main feature for the east is a large area of high pressure, said Sky News Weather senior meteorologist Tom Saunders. “Winds blow anticlockwise around highs, which means warm air from northern Australia is being drawn across the southeast lifting temperatures. “Those north-westerly winds will drag that heat down to Tasmania, and on the New South Wales coast, temperatures could be over 25C and warmer inland.”
High-pressure lead to temperature spikes.
Soggy conditions across much of the country’s southeast should clear by Friday, leaving just some clouds and patchy showers behind. Temperatures will rise across South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania on Friday and Saturday. But then temperatures will drop once again. And that will be the general rhythm of the weather across the south and east – a rise in temperatures then pared back. When you enjoy the warmer conditions and how much it will be pared back when the mercury drops, will depend on where you are.
Adelaide will see a high of 26C on a sunny Friday but enjoy Saturday morning as the weekend will only get more relaxed and wetter from there on in. A thrill of 20C on Saturday with rain in the evening and then more showers on a cold Sunday, topping out at 15C. Overnight lows in Adelaide of around 10C. It will struggle to get 18C in Melbourne on Friday, contrasting with a pleasant 24C forecast for Saturday. Not for long, however, because then it’s a 10C drop to Sunday, when 14C will be the maximum. Showers are likely, with most in the mid-teens, the best that can be expected into mid-next week. Overnight lows in Melbourne will be a mild 13C at dawn on Saturday, but by the time it gets to Tuesday morning, expect just 5C – low enough for a dawn shiver.
Cold enough for snow
Across the Bass Strait and Tasmania will see days of mostly 13-14C for the weekend and coming week. But that spike of warmth from the continent’s northwest will be felt on Saturday as the temperature rises to 18C – although rain is likely. It will be cold enough for snow down to around 600 meters in Tasmania and about 1000 meters in the ranges of Victoria and NSW during the weekend. Minimums of 6C are on the cards.
Toasty in Sydney, Brisbane, and Darwin
It will be a run of warm and mostly sunny days in Sydney. Friday’s 24C will be a few notches below Thursday, but the weekend will be a glorious 28C on both days with minimums of low to mid-teens. The average high for September in Harbour City is a more pedestrian 21C.
