Winter solstice arrives in Australia, as icy temperatures hit the country's south east
Millions of Australians are battling icy temperatures, with much of the country's southeast expected to experience widespread frosty conditions on Australia's shortest day of the year.
Large parts of New South Wales, Victoria, and some parts of Queensland are forecast to see cold temperatures, frost and possible fog over the weekend.
The winter solstice arrived on Saturday, meaning Australia will have its 'shortest day of the year', or the day with the least amount of daylight hours.
A second cold front is also expected to hit the country's southeast on Sunday morning, bringing further icy conditions as it makes its way across Western Australia and into South Australia.
Some parts of the southeast might dip below freezing temperatures on Sunday morning, Sky News Weather Presenter Nikolina Kharoufeh said.
The second cold front is expected to bring heavy rainfall and very widespread, strong and gusty winds across South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania.
Here's what those in Australia's capital cities should expect this weekend.
Sydney
Sydneysiders should expect a partly cloudy day on Saturday with a high of 19C and a low of 11C, with light winds.
On Sunday, Sydney will see a mostly sunny day with a high of 20C and a low of 12C.
Melbourne
In Melbourne, a cloudy day, with a chance of showers is forecast on Saturday with a high of 15C and a low of 8C.
On Sunday, a partly cloudy day is expected with a high of 16C and a low of 9C.
Brisbane
Those up in Brisbane are expected to see a sunny day on Saturday with a high of 24C and a low of 14C.
On Sunday, Brisbane is forecasted to have a mostly sunny day with a high of 25C and a low of 15C.
Perth
Over in Perth on Saturday showers are expected with a high of 18C and a low of 10C.
On Sunday, a partly cloudy day is expected with a high of 19C and a low of 11C.
Adelaide
In Adelaide on Saturday a cloudy day and a chance of rain is expected with a high of 17C and a low of 9C.
On Sunday light winds are expected with a high of 18C and a low of 10C.
Hobart
Down in Hobart, a chance of showers is expected on Saturday, with a high of 13C and a low of 6C.
On Sunday, a partly cloudy day is forecast with a high of 14C and a low of 7C.
Canberra
In the nation's capital, chilly temperatures are expected on Saturday, with a high of 15C and a low of 2C.
On Sunday, Canberra should see a mostly Sunday day with a high of 16C and a low of 3C.
Darwin
Up in Darwin, a sunny day is forecast on Saturday with a high of 31C and a low of 21C.
On Sunday, a high of 32C and a low of 22C is forecast.
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News.com.au
14 hours ago
- News.com.au
Winter solstice arrives in Australia, as icy temperatures hit the country's south east
Millions of Australians are battling icy temperatures, with much of the country's southeast expected to experience widespread frosty conditions on Australia's shortest day of the year. Large parts of New South Wales, Victoria, and some parts of Queensland are forecast to see cold temperatures, frost and possible fog over the weekend. The winter solstice arrived on Saturday, meaning Australia will have its 'shortest day of the year', or the day with the least amount of daylight hours. A second cold front is also expected to hit the country's southeast on Sunday morning, bringing further icy conditions as it makes its way across Western Australia and into South Australia. Some parts of the southeast might dip below freezing temperatures on Sunday morning, Sky News Weather Presenter Nikolina Kharoufeh said. The second cold front is expected to bring heavy rainfall and very widespread, strong and gusty winds across South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania. Here's what those in Australia's capital cities should expect this weekend. Sydney Sydneysiders should expect a partly cloudy day on Saturday with a high of 19C and a low of 11C, with light winds. On Sunday, Sydney will see a mostly sunny day with a high of 20C and a low of 12C. Melbourne In Melbourne, a cloudy day, with a chance of showers is forecast on Saturday with a high of 15C and a low of 8C. On Sunday, a partly cloudy day is expected with a high of 16C and a low of 9C. Brisbane Those up in Brisbane are expected to see a sunny day on Saturday with a high of 24C and a low of 14C. On Sunday, Brisbane is forecasted to have a mostly sunny day with a high of 25C and a low of 15C. Perth Over in Perth on Saturday showers are expected with a high of 18C and a low of 10C. On Sunday, a partly cloudy day is expected with a high of 19C and a low of 11C. Adelaide In Adelaide on Saturday a cloudy day and a chance of rain is expected with a high of 17C and a low of 9C. On Sunday light winds are expected with a high of 18C and a low of 10C. Hobart Down in Hobart, a chance of showers is expected on Saturday, with a high of 13C and a low of 6C. On Sunday, a partly cloudy day is forecast with a high of 14C and a low of 7C. Canberra In the nation's capital, chilly temperatures are expected on Saturday, with a high of 15C and a low of 2C. On Sunday, Canberra should see a mostly Sunday day with a high of 16C and a low of 3C. Darwin Up in Darwin, a sunny day is forecast on Saturday with a high of 31C and a low of 21C. On Sunday, a high of 32C and a low of 22C is forecast.
ABC News
20 hours ago
- ABC News
Thousands take a nude plunge for Dark Mofo winter solstice swim in Hobart
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ABC News
a day ago
- ABC News
Major winter storm to bring gales, rain and snow to southern Australia
A series of three cold fronts will spread an intense burst of wintry weather across southern states during the next five days. The fronts are predicted by modelling to become more powerful than typical early winter systems, and will generate damaging wind gusts, heavy showers, isolated thunderstorms and pockets of small hail. While wind speeds have the potential to exceed warning thresholds, farmers will rejoice with a solid soaking likely from the Western Australian west coast to north-east Victoria. The alpine region will also welcome another dump of snow, which will make 2025 one of the best starts to a ski season this century. The ongoing frontal activity, which was noticeably absent last winter, has laid the platform for the first wetter-than-average month along the majority of Australia's southern coastline since July 2024. The first front in the series already brought showers to the WA west coast on Friday, including over 30 millimetres in Busselton by sunset. Widespread showers will continue across WA today near and behind the front, with up to 20mm likely near the south-west and lower west coasts, and possibly up to 10mm over the wheat belt. As the first front weakens in the Bight on Sunday, a trailing second front will maintain showers along WA's south coast. Front number two will then rapidly cross the South Australian coast on Monday, before sweeping across Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales on Tuesday, bringing widespread showers and the odd storm or two with small hail. Totals by late Tuesday should exceed 20mm in coastal areas exposed to a westerly airstream, including around Adelaide, Mount Gambier and Warrnambool. The final front will then follow on Wednesday across south-east states and generate further heavy showers, storms and small hail. After several days of showery weather, this series of fronts will deliver an average of 20 to 40mm of rain to southern agricultural SA, along with much of southern and mountain Victoria, and the southern slopes and ranges of NSW. For Adelaide, another 32mm will make this June the city's wettest month in two years. Unfortunately, though, repeating the trend from previous fronts, only light rain will reach north-west Victoria, the western Riverina and the SA Murraylands and Riverland. The continued absence of genuine drought relief across areas further inland is the result of fronts not linking with plumes of tropical moisture — which from their origin favour rain in areas further north. Daytime temperatures will climb as much as 5 degrees Celsius above average across south-east states during the coming days, thanks to a mild northerly airstream — a common pattern preceding vigorous fronts. The passage of the fronts will then drop temperatures back to average for winter, with the colder air reaching Adelaide on Monday, Melbourne, Hobart and Canberra on Tuesday, and Sydney by Wednesday. Initially, the unseasonable warm northerlies will lead to rain across the Alps on Monday, but temperatures will quickly fall below freezing on Tuesday. Once the cold air arrives, near continuous snowfall should last around 36 hours, accumulating to around 50 centimetres at major resorts, although Mt Buller may receive slightly less. An additional dump of heavy snow arriving soon after the opening weekend storm will make 2025 one of the best starts to ski season this century. The snow depth by Thursday should challenge previous high late June depths measured in 2000, 2004, 2012 and 2022. In terms of non-alpine snow, Tasmania will be the main beneficiary with snowfalls possible to very low levels on Wednesday below an elevation of 500 metres. A strong westerly airstream is a characteristic attribute of most major winter cold fronts, and this series won't disappoint, bringing strong to gale-force winds over a wide swathe of southern Australia. A warning for damaging gusts has already been issued for southern WA this weekend, and multiple warnings should follow for south-east states into the new week. Winds will strengthen across south-east states through Sunday and Monday ahead of the fronts, which could whip another dust storm across the parched regions of inland SA. For most of SA and Victoria, though, the strongest winds will arrive on Tuesday when maximum speeds reach around 90 kilometres per hour although exposed parts of the coast and ranges could see gusts above 100kph. The fierce winds will also lash NSW on Tuesday, and peak across eastern NSW on Wednesday, again with gusts possibly near 100kph. Winds at this strength often bring down tree branches and can become destructive in heavier showers and storms, a scenario which may lead to isolated power outages. Current modelling indicates calmer weather will return to southern Australia by Thursday.
