Australia's ski season off to a snowy start
Sky News Weather Meteorologist Rob Sharpe has talked about the snow set to hit Australia ahead of the ski season.
The Western Australian system currently drenching the region is on its way to the southeast this week.
This comes ahead of the long weekend in many Australian states.
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Sky News AU
4 hours ago
- Sky News AU
‘Proper midwinter stuff': Coldest days of the year so far arriving in Adeliade and Canberra, while Brisbane and Sydney to see chilliest mornings yet
Most Australian capitals will continue to feel the winter blast as temperatures plummet around the country in the days ahead, with Canberra and Adelaide set to experience their coldest conditions so far this year. Meanwhile, mornings in Brisbane and Sydney are forecast to be the chilliest they have been yet in 2025, with lows for Queensland expected to enter single digits. Winter has firmly set in on the east coast this week, with Sky News meteorologist Rob Sharpe explaining Wednesday was Sydney's coldest day of the year so far by a 'considerable margin' with the city seeing a maximum of just 14.1C. Sharpe said the chill in New South Wales' central east was due to southerly winds brining rain and cold air as it rolls through the area, and Sydneysiders are now facing their coldest mornings of 2025 so far as the week progresses. Sydney is set to see daily lows drop to single figures for most of the next seven days and the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a chilly 6C for Friday morning. 'I'm not sure it's going to be quite that cold on Friday, but we will be feeling the chill and then we'll be having another cold belt, Monday, Tuesday, with daytime tops again back to just 16 degrees,' Sharpe said. Brisbane could drop to 9C on both Thursday and Friday mornings and Sharpe said the forecasted lows are 'easily the coldest we've seen so far this year' for Queensland's capital. Temperatures in Brisbane are looking more mild for Saturday through to Monday, but another cold dip could arrive as early as Wednesday next week. Canberra has been forecast to plummet to a freezing low of –4C on Thursday and Friday morning is also set to be below zero, reaching a low of –3C. Wet weather is looking set to roll into Adelaide from Thursday, with the city also likely to see its coldest 2025 day yet this weekend. 'With temperatures as low as 13C on Sunday, easily the coldest day of the year so far there as well. So, proper midwinter stuff coming through,' Sharpe said. Sharpe said Monday next week could be Canberra's coldest day of the year so far, with a high of just 9C and a low of 0C forecast. Windy and cold conditions are expected for Melbourne and Hobart over the next seven days and the Victorian capital could dip to just 4C on Thursday. It will be a different story in Perth and Darwin, however, with the West Australian capital largely avoiding the nail-biting temperatures sending a shiver down the east coast. 'The cold temperatures have really avoided the region and the showers that we've been seeing constantly, they're going to be gradually clearing. So, an improvement in the weather on the way there,' Sharpe said. Darwin appears set for balmy conditions over the next seven days, with Sharpe saying the northernmost capital 'seems immune' from the cold spell. Daily highs of 31 are expected in Darwin for the next week beginning Thursday, with the city projected to drop to a seven-day low of 20. Rain, strong winds, thunderstorms, and even hail and snow have been forecast in parts of the country's south-east by the BOM, as a strong cold front hits southern SA, NSW, Victoria, and Tasmania from Saturday afternoon into next week.
The Advertiser
14 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Newcastle coal shipments plummet due to heavy rain during May
Last month's rainfall caused coal exports through the Port of Newcastle to plummet to near record low levels. Export commodity data shows only 8.94 million tonnes of coal left the port during the month due to sustained difficulties with ship loading. The figure compares with the 11.4 million tonnes, which were exported in April. Just under 54 million tonnes have been exported for the year to date. Last month's restricted operations have led to a queue of coal ships, which stretched as far south as Budgewoi on Wednesday. A spokesman for Port Waratah Coal Services, which loaded 5.1 million tonnes for the month, said multiple ocean swell events and a large amount of fresh water entering the harbour significantly affected its operations and limited vessel movements. "There are a number of considerations we employ to operate safely with higher levels of fresh water in the harbour," he said. "We continue to make every effort to manage weather impacts, harbour conditions, stormwater onsite, and keep everyone safe. "We have experienced this type of inclement weather in recent years. However, the prolonged duration of wet weather in May and other conditions, including network closures, have resulted in lower than average operating statistics this month (May). He said the company was working with its customers and Hunter Valley Coal Chain partners to maximise coal delivery onto vessels. The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) said operations on the Hunter Valley Network remained open for all services. Full operations to the North Coast were restored late last week. "ARTC will be actively monitoring track condition between trains, temporary speed restrictions are in place along the alignment and will remain until track health stabilises," it said in a statement. The International Energy Agency has predicted demand for Australian coal from South East Asia will remain high for the next few years. Half of the coal exported through the port in recent years went to Japan, while about 30 per cent went to China. Other markets, including South Korea and Taiwan, remained stable. The ongoing demand for Australian coal is occurring at the same time as countries including Japan and South Korea are actively engaged with the Port of Newcastle on the development of its clean energy precinct. Coal continues to represent the Hunter's largest and Australia's second-largest commodity export earner after iron ore, accounting for an expected $75 billion of exports this financial year. Last month's rainfall caused coal exports through the Port of Newcastle to plummet to near record low levels. Export commodity data shows only 8.94 million tonnes of coal left the port during the month due to sustained difficulties with ship loading. The figure compares with the 11.4 million tonnes, which were exported in April. Just under 54 million tonnes have been exported for the year to date. Last month's restricted operations have led to a queue of coal ships, which stretched as far south as Budgewoi on Wednesday. A spokesman for Port Waratah Coal Services, which loaded 5.1 million tonnes for the month, said multiple ocean swell events and a large amount of fresh water entering the harbour significantly affected its operations and limited vessel movements. "There are a number of considerations we employ to operate safely with higher levels of fresh water in the harbour," he said. "We continue to make every effort to manage weather impacts, harbour conditions, stormwater onsite, and keep everyone safe. "We have experienced this type of inclement weather in recent years. However, the prolonged duration of wet weather in May and other conditions, including network closures, have resulted in lower than average operating statistics this month (May). He said the company was working with its customers and Hunter Valley Coal Chain partners to maximise coal delivery onto vessels. The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) said operations on the Hunter Valley Network remained open for all services. Full operations to the North Coast were restored late last week. "ARTC will be actively monitoring track condition between trains, temporary speed restrictions are in place along the alignment and will remain until track health stabilises," it said in a statement. The International Energy Agency has predicted demand for Australian coal from South East Asia will remain high for the next few years. Half of the coal exported through the port in recent years went to Japan, while about 30 per cent went to China. Other markets, including South Korea and Taiwan, remained stable. The ongoing demand for Australian coal is occurring at the same time as countries including Japan and South Korea are actively engaged with the Port of Newcastle on the development of its clean energy precinct. Coal continues to represent the Hunter's largest and Australia's second-largest commodity export earner after iron ore, accounting for an expected $75 billion of exports this financial year. Last month's rainfall caused coal exports through the Port of Newcastle to plummet to near record low levels. Export commodity data shows only 8.94 million tonnes of coal left the port during the month due to sustained difficulties with ship loading. The figure compares with the 11.4 million tonnes, which were exported in April. Just under 54 million tonnes have been exported for the year to date. Last month's restricted operations have led to a queue of coal ships, which stretched as far south as Budgewoi on Wednesday. A spokesman for Port Waratah Coal Services, which loaded 5.1 million tonnes for the month, said multiple ocean swell events and a large amount of fresh water entering the harbour significantly affected its operations and limited vessel movements. "There are a number of considerations we employ to operate safely with higher levels of fresh water in the harbour," he said. "We continue to make every effort to manage weather impacts, harbour conditions, stormwater onsite, and keep everyone safe. "We have experienced this type of inclement weather in recent years. However, the prolonged duration of wet weather in May and other conditions, including network closures, have resulted in lower than average operating statistics this month (May). He said the company was working with its customers and Hunter Valley Coal Chain partners to maximise coal delivery onto vessels. The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) said operations on the Hunter Valley Network remained open for all services. Full operations to the North Coast were restored late last week. "ARTC will be actively monitoring track condition between trains, temporary speed restrictions are in place along the alignment and will remain until track health stabilises," it said in a statement. The International Energy Agency has predicted demand for Australian coal from South East Asia will remain high for the next few years. Half of the coal exported through the port in recent years went to Japan, while about 30 per cent went to China. Other markets, including South Korea and Taiwan, remained stable. The ongoing demand for Australian coal is occurring at the same time as countries including Japan and South Korea are actively engaged with the Port of Newcastle on the development of its clean energy precinct. Coal continues to represent the Hunter's largest and Australia's second-largest commodity export earner after iron ore, accounting for an expected $75 billion of exports this financial year. Last month's rainfall caused coal exports through the Port of Newcastle to plummet to near record low levels. Export commodity data shows only 8.94 million tonnes of coal left the port during the month due to sustained difficulties with ship loading. The figure compares with the 11.4 million tonnes, which were exported in April. Just under 54 million tonnes have been exported for the year to date. Last month's restricted operations have led to a queue of coal ships, which stretched as far south as Budgewoi on Wednesday. A spokesman for Port Waratah Coal Services, which loaded 5.1 million tonnes for the month, said multiple ocean swell events and a large amount of fresh water entering the harbour significantly affected its operations and limited vessel movements. "There are a number of considerations we employ to operate safely with higher levels of fresh water in the harbour," he said. "We continue to make every effort to manage weather impacts, harbour conditions, stormwater onsite, and keep everyone safe. "We have experienced this type of inclement weather in recent years. However, the prolonged duration of wet weather in May and other conditions, including network closures, have resulted in lower than average operating statistics this month (May). He said the company was working with its customers and Hunter Valley Coal Chain partners to maximise coal delivery onto vessels. The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) said operations on the Hunter Valley Network remained open for all services. Full operations to the North Coast were restored late last week. "ARTC will be actively monitoring track condition between trains, temporary speed restrictions are in place along the alignment and will remain until track health stabilises," it said in a statement. The International Energy Agency has predicted demand for Australian coal from South East Asia will remain high for the next few years. Half of the coal exported through the port in recent years went to Japan, while about 30 per cent went to China. Other markets, including South Korea and Taiwan, remained stable. The ongoing demand for Australian coal is occurring at the same time as countries including Japan and South Korea are actively engaged with the Port of Newcastle on the development of its clean energy precinct. Coal continues to represent the Hunter's largest and Australia's second-largest commodity export earner after iron ore, accounting for an expected $75 billion of exports this financial year.
7NEWS
19 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Jane's weather: King's Birthday long weekend snow set to transform the Australian Alps
A huge weather system is heading for the Australian Alps, ready to kick off the snow season this King's birthday long weekend. The long weekend traditionally marks the beginning of the snow season, and this year it will be filled with what snowboarders and skiers love most... snow! We're about to see the 'trifecta' line up, with instability, moisture and cold air colliding over the alps, and what is especially enticing about this system is just how long it lasts. It is set to kick off later on Friday, dumping snow for much of the long weekend, and potentially continuing well into next week. The Snow Forecast has some great numbers on it today for every single Australian alpine resort, from NSW to Victoria to Tasmania. The nice thing about these snowfall ranges is the first number. The top number is the exciting part (wow! the potential for over a metre!), but it's the smaller number that really counts. For the major resorts, this first number is still a very decent amount of snow - generally in the 30cm to 40cm range. That means that every piece of weather guidance is all forecasting at least this amount, and some a lot higher. It means that we have confidence that this system is locked and loaded... and this will be a great snow storm for all alpine resorts. If you're not headed to the snow, you're set for a chilly weekend anyway. The air that settles in over the southeast on Sunday is currently near Antarctica. That air is headed straight up to southeastern Australia, and we'll feel it - with lots of cold showers and wintry hail (those tiny balls of ice that bounce when they reach the ground). While the alps are covered in snow, other parts may be turned white as well, with a blast that really reminds you that winter is here.
