Insane polar blast to strike Australia: Snow and freezing temperatures on the way
A polar blast originating in Antarctica is headed towards southeastern Australia, set to freeze millions of Aussies.
Weatherzone meteorologist Anthony Sharwood warned the cold front is likely to hit on Monday.
The system is expected to deliver rain, wild winds and potentially heavy snowfalls to alpine regions in Tasmania, Victoria, southern NSW and the ACT.
While those in Australia's southeast may feel prepared having shivered through a cold front last weekend, which delivered centimetres of snow to ski resorts, Mr Sharwood warned next week's will be more intense.
'The coming system looks to be stronger, colder, longer-lasting and wetter with the potential for heavy precipitation in a broad arc extending roughly from Adelaide to the ACT,' he said.
'This is the sort of cold front that snow lovers dream about in midwinter, let alone in May.
'The chart above shows how frigid air is expected to push northwards from well south of Tasmania early next week. The cold air should reach SE Australia on Monday along with plenty of moisture.'
Snow could fall down to 400m in Tasmania's mountains.
'In terms of systems of this calibre in May, the predicted set-up is reminiscent of the famous May 28-30 cold outbreak way back in the year 2000, when a metre of snow fell at the ski resorts and an NRL game at Canberra Stadium was played on a field that was white with settled snow,' Mr Sharwood said.
'That's not to suggest that the system will be quite that cold, or that snow will settle across Canberra, but brief snow flurries down as low as Canberra's elevation - around 600m - appear possible at this stage, with the snow level closer to 400m in Tasmania.'
The cold front is good news for ski lovers with the system to provide a half-metre of snow just in time for ski season.
'That's assuming there's no major rain event between this system and the season opening on Saturday, June 7,' Mr Sharwood said.
Significant rain is forecast for large parts of Victoria and southern SA.
'Estimating precise rainfall totals a few days out from a weather event is difficult to do with confidence, however widespread falls of at least 10mm or more are likely in the areas mentioned,' Mr Sharwood said.
'While this system is highly unlikely to be a drought-breaker, many locations will see their heaviest falls to date in 2025.'
Strong and potentially damaging winds are also set to affect alpine areas and exposed coastal weather stations in Victoria and Tasmania as the arctic air mass pushes northward.
'It's also worth mentioning that eastern NSW will be vulnerable to falling trees due to loose soil from the recent extremely heavy rain and historic flooding,' Mr Sharwood said.
'While the NSW coast usually sees minimal rainfall from southwesterly systems like this one, it generally doesn't miss the strong winds.'
Sydney
Friday: Cloudy. Very high chance of rain, easing in the late afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds east to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light in the early afternoon then becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the late evening. Min 16. Max 22.
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Winds northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending westerly during the day then becoming light during the afternoon. Min 13. Max 22.
Sunday: Mostly sunny. Light winds. Min 12. Max 21.
Melbourne
Friday: Cloudy. High chance of showers. Light winds. in 10. Max 17.
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h turning northerly 20 to 30 km/h during the afternoon. Min 11. Max 19.
Sunday: Mostly sunny day. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the evening. Winds northerly 25 to 40 km/h. Min 11. Max 19.
Brisbane
Friday: Sunny. Light winds. Min 14. Max 25.
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Light winds. Min 14. Max 25.
Sunday: Mostly sunny. The chance of morning fog in the west. Light winds. Min 14. Max 27.
Perth
Friday: Cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the early morning. Winds southerly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light before dawn then becoming southeast to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h in the morning. Min 10. Max 17.
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Patches of morning frost about the hills. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming westerly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the afternoon. Min 5. Max 17.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Light winds becoming southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the afternoon. Min 9. Max 19.
Adelaide
Friday: Sunny. The chance of morning frost about the northern suburbs. Light winds becoming west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the late afternoon. Min 5. Max 18.
Saturday: Mostly sunny morning. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Winds northerly 15 to 25 km/h turning northwesterly 25 to 35 km/h during the morning. Min 8. Max 21.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the evening. Winds northwesterly 35 to 50 km/h. Min 11. Max 21.
Hobart
Friday: Mostly sunny morning. High chance of showers, most likely in the late afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming north to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the evening then becoming light in the late evening. Min 5. Max 19.
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Light winds becoming west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening. Min 10. Max 17.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the evening. Winds northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h turning northerly 20 to 30 km/h during the afternoon. Min 9. Max 17.
Canberra
Friday: Cloudy. Very high chance of rain, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Winds east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h shifting northwesterly in the early afternoon. Min 9. Max 18.
Saturday: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light during the evening. Min 6. Max 16.
Sunday: Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning. Min 4. Max 17.
Darwin
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Light winds. Min 22. Max 32.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the day. Min 24. Max 32.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Coldest night in more than 40 years: Aussies shiver through temperatures as low as -4C
Millions of Australians shivered through freezing temperatures overnight with some parts of the country recording their coldest night in decades. Mt Isa, in north-west Queensland, recorded its coldest June night in 44 years after temperatures plunged to -0.7C. Further east, in Richmond, a minimum temperature of -0.1C was the first sub-zero night in 13 years. Oakey on the Darling Downs reached a low of -4.2C. 'What we're seeing is a very stubborn high pressure system sitting over the east coast,' the Bureau of Meteorology's Jonathon How told Daily Mail Australia. 'It's made up of light wind, clear skies and cool air; the clear sky does mean that temperature can drop overnight. 'We are expecting another frosty night across Queensland tonight.' In NSW, the cold snap blanketed the Central Tablelands in snow and temperatures sank below freezing. Sydneysiders have been warned to expect scattered showers and tops of 16C. A southerly airstream has continued dragging cold air up the east coast, likely to bring wetter weather into the weekend. Showers are expected to develop from Thursday night along the exposed eastern NSW as a trough sits offshore. A low pressure system in the Tasman Sea and a high over the Great Australian Bight combined to push the south-westerly air over Queensland and New South Wales. 'Showers along the coastal fringe, couple thunderstorms though most of it is sort of offshore,' he said. The eastern suburbs could see possible showers today, before light showers become more widespread on Friday. Melbourne will remain drier heading into the end of the week after multiple rounds of showers fell across Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. Many of the areas to receive the dampening had endured a record dry start to the year, with farmers saying more rain was needed to break the drought. 'Southern and south-eastern Australia will need to see more healthy rain-bearing systems this winter to further reduce or wipe out the longer-term rainfall deficiencies,' Weatherzone wrote at the time. Gusty showers and potential storms developing across southern Western Australia on Friday as a cold front clips the bottom of the state. The front is tipped to reach Adelaide on Saturday, bringing showers to some of the driest regions of the state. The Mid North of the state looks likely to miss out on the much-needed rain, but the upper Eyre Peninsula –which has seen the least rainfall all year– should receive some of the showers. 'That cold front will track across South Australia and reach Adelaide on Saturday, in terms of rainfall, any is welcome,' Mr How said. The bureau is expecting about 10mm of rain in the SA capital on Saturday before the system moves over Victoria and weakens on Sunday. 'There is another coming on Monday from the same direction,' Mr How said. Sydney Friday: Shower or two. Min 10C. Max 16C. Saturday: Shower or two. Min 11C. Max 17C. Sunday: Partly cloudy. Min 9C. Max 18C. Perth Friday: Showers. Min 11C. Max 21C Saturday: Partly cloudy. Min 6C. Max 20C Sunday: Shower or two. Min 10C. Max 20C Adelaide Friday: Mostly sunny. Min 7C. Max 18C. Saturday: Showers. Min 8C. Max 16C. Sunday: Shower or two. Min 8C. Max 16C. Melbourne Friday: Mostly sunny. Min 3C. Max 14C. Saturday: Partly cloudy. Min 3C. Max 13C. Sunday: Possible shower. Min 7C. Max 15C. Hobart Friday: Mostly sunny. Min 3C. Max 14C. Saturday: Mostly sunny. Min 4C. Max 15C. Sunday: Partly cloudy. Min 4C. Max 15C. Canberra Friday: Morning frost. Partly cloudy. Min -1C. Max 13C. Saturday: Morning frost. Partly cloudy. Min -1C. Max 14C. Sunday: Morning frost. Partly cloudy. Min 1C. Max 13C. Brisbane Friday: Sunny. Min 8C. Max 19C. Saturday: Sunny. Min 8C. Max 21C. Sunday: Sunny. Min 10C. Max 23C. Darwin Friday: Sunny. Min 19C. Max 30C. Saturday: Sunny. Min 19C. Max 30C.
South Wales Argus
5 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
UK could see hottest day of the year so far with thunderstorms set to hit
The Met Office said that some areas may see about two inches of rain in a few hours and winds of up to 50mph between Thursday and Saturday. Temperatures may reach 30C on Friday, which would make it the hottest day of 2025, surpassing the 29.3C recorded at Kew Gardens in west London on May 1. It means the parts of the UK could be hotter than Ibiza, Mykonos, and even Los Angeles. (PA Graphics) The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued its first yellow heat-health alert of the year, running from 9pm Thursday to 8am Sunday and covering the east of England, East Midlands, London, and the south east. Heavy downpours and thunderstorms are expected in Northern Ireland, south west England and Wales on Thursday, potentially causing flooding, power cuts, and travel disruption, the Met Office said. Forecasters say an inch and a half of rain could fall over a few hours and winds could reach 50mph. Other regions may see showers, but northern England and Scotland are expected to remain mostly dry and warm, with highs of up to 27C, the Met Office said. (PA Graphics) From Friday afternoon, thunderstorms are forecast across eastern and south-eastern England, including London, with up to 50mm of rain possible in a few hours before conditions ease on Saturday morning. These storms could bring flooding, travel disruption, power cuts, and damage from hail, lightning and gusty winds, forecasters said. Earlier on Friday, conditions are expected to be dry with temperatures between 27 and 28C but there may be highs of 30C if skies remain clear, the Met Office said. Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge said: 'We've got a very warm, humid, spell of wet weather to come. 'It's all because we've got air moving in from the south, so the air is originating across Spain and Portugal and has been moving its way northwards. 'We're going to see increasingly humid conditions with very warm days and some quite muggy nights as well and the general gist is that western parts of the UK are likely to see the majority of the rain and the thundery showers. 'But, as we go into Friday, we could see some of that also moving across the east and south east as well for some thunder there for a time.' Under UKHSA and the Met Office's Weather-Health alerting system, a yellow alert means there could be an increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people. It may lead to an increase in risk to health for individuals aged over 65 or those with pre-existing health conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Trailblazing TV weatherman Gary England dead aged 85 as dozens pay tribute
A trailblazing television meteorologist who was once hailed as 'the weather God of Oklahoma City' has died at the age of 85. Gary England was the resident chief meteorologist at local CBS affiliate, KWTV, where he kept Oklahomans informed on the weather for 41 years before he retired in 2013. England's family confirmed he died on June 10 to his former home station, and the news was announced on air by KWTV co-anchor Amanda Taylor. His colleagues and longtime viewers have already begun paying tribute to the famous weatherman. KWTV Washington Bureau Chief Alex Cameron remembered England during Wednesday's telecast, telling viewers that his peer was a 'legend' in Oklahoma City. 'I really realized that he's a very down-to-earth guy. He likes to have fun. He likes to kid. But as anyone who watched him also knew, he was extremely serious when it came to severe weather. I mean, deadly serious,' Cameron said of his friend. Cameron praised England for his coverage of a tornado in May 1999 in Oklahoma that devastated the state. 'I will never forget his words. I think this is a direct quote, but he said several times that day, "If you don't get underground, you're going to die,'" Cameron said. 'After seeing that, I realized that what Gary had said was not hyperbolic at all. It was spot on. And there's no doubt in my mind, he saved a lot of lives that day,' he continued. Fellow meteorologist Shelby Hays shared photos with England on her Facebook account and wrote, 'Gary England wasn't just a legend in meteorology; he was my dear friend & mentor. 'He was the voice I grew up hearing through stormy Oklahoma nights, and the reason I chased a career in weather.' Aaron Brackett, another meteorologist in Oklahoma, shared screenshots of encouraging messages from England on social media, and remembered his friend, 'I know the impact he had on Oklahoma. 'Early in my time with KFOR I was storm chasing in Seiling, his hometown, and noticed a road was named in his honor, and it really struck me.' Current KMTV meteorologist David Payne also paid tribute, writing on Facebook, 'There will only ever be one Gary England - an Oklahoman through and through. 'He was one of a kind and the impact he had on our state, meteorology and severe weather prediction and tracking will be felt for years and years to come.' Others who grew up watching England on television paid tribute on X, with one tweet reading, 'The greatest meteorologist of our generation. RIP Gary England!' 'Gary England should go on the Mt. Rushmore of Oklahomans. There's a reason so many of us know about the weather and aren't afraid of it, and it's because most of us grew up with him on our TV's,' another wrote. England was a household name in Oklahoma, growing up in Seiling, a small town about two hours north of Oklahoma City. He joined the Navy after high school and met his wife, Mary Carlisle, in college after his service. England joined an Oklahoma radio station in 1971 before becoming KWTV's chief meteorologist in 1972. He became the first person in history to use the Doppler weather radar in 1981, which is now a widely used technology by meteorologists. England even made a cameo in the hit 1996 film, Twister, and wrote several books, including his autobiography, Weathering the Storm. The beloved weatherman is survived by his wife, Mary, daughter Molly, and granddaughters, Cassidy and Chloe His family said in a statement to KWTV, 'We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved Gary England passed this evening. 'Gary passed peacefully on the evening of June 10th, surrounded by his loved ones, including his wife of 63 years, Mary, and his loving daughter, Molly. 'Gary was proud to have protected Oklahoma from its deadliest storms. He will be deeply and forever missed.' England is survived by his wife, Mary, daughter Molly, and granddaughters, Cassidy and Chloe.
