Latest news with #BureauOfMeteorology
ABC News
19 hours ago
- Climate
- ABC News
WA's Stirling Range National Park enjoys three days of snow in just over a week
For West Australians who love chasing snow, there have been three opportunities in eight days to frolic in the white stuff at Bluff Knoll in Stirling Range National Park. Matilda Reddington made the challenging walk to the top of the peak with her sisters before school on Monday. "We woke up at 3am and left Bremer [Bay] and probably started the walk about 5 [am]," she said. It was her third hike to the top of Bluff Knoll in the snow. The most snow flurries ever recorded in WA in a single year was six in 2016, all on Bluff Knoll. There were five at the peak in 2021, and five in 1968 at different locations across the state. There were also reports of snow on Bluff Knoll on Monday and Thursday of last week. The chance to play in the snow at the top normally requires a pre-dawn hike before it melts, but last Thursday's conditions brought afternoon flurries. It also led to snow at Mt Toolbrunup, which at about 1,050 metres is the second-highest peak in the Stirling Ranges. Despite being only 50 metres lower than Bluff Knoll, snow is much less common on Mt Toolbrunup. Justin Taylor and a friend had planned to do the hike to the Mt Toolbrunup peak on Thursday anyway, and the snow was bonus. "It's fantastic." The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) does not have monitors at either site, but relies on reports from the hikers who make the trek. The last report to the BOM of snow at Mt Toolbrunup was in September 2017. No snow is forecast for Stirling Range National Park in the coming days, and warmer temperatures are expected. Last Thursday Katanning, about 125 kilometres south-east of Mt Toolbrunup, had its coldest day since records began there 27 years ago, according to the BOM. The temperature reached a maximum of just 8.5 degrees Celsius, breaking the previous record from 2017 of 8.6C. There was also hail on Thursday in parts of the state's South West. Some Margaret River locals took the opportunity to make hail men, a different take on the snowmen being attempted on Bluff Knoll. Perth recorded its coldest minimum in 15 years last Friday, when temperatures plummeted to 0.3C at about 7am. A new July minimum temperature record of 0.4C was also set in Windy Harbour that day, while Bridgetown recorded -1.5C and Collie -2.0C.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wild weather to lash Australia as cold front, heavy rain barrels through
A powerful blast of winter weather is bearing down on Australia this week, with heavy rain, strong winds and chilly temperatures forecast to hit several states in the coming days. Parts of New South Wales and southeast Queensland — which are set to cop the brunt this week — are bracing for up to 70mm of rain, large surf and persistent cold southerlies, while Sydney faces a string of dreary, wet days and a potentially intense low-pressure system on Saturday. Meanwhile, Perth and southwest Western Australia are also in for a soggy stretch, with rain expected and cool temperatures to return by the weekend. New South Wales The system kicks off today, with a cold front sweeping through inland NSW and pushing showers towards the coast by early Wednesday morning. "We've got a weak cold front coming through today through parts of NSW, and we'll see showers inland," Senior Meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology Jonathan How told Yahoo News Australia. "The showers will reach the coast of Sydney early tomorrow morning [Thursday], and then the cold front moves off. But then we're stuck with a very persistent southerly wind flow across NSW, all the way to the weekend." That persistent flow will drive widespread showers along the coast from the Illawarra to the Hunter region. In Sydney, it'll barely hit 15 degrees on Wednesday, with much of the rain focused on coastal suburbs. "Up to 70 millimetres of rain could fall in the eastern suburbs," How said. "For most of eastern NSW on Thursday and Friday, we'll have pretty persistent showers, cold southerly winds, and large waves. For Sydney, it's probably mostly just the eastern suburbs." Some areas in the Hunter, Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers could see daily rainfall totals reaching between 50 and 100mm through the weekend. Winds along parts of the northern coastal fringe may also become damaging, with gusts surpassing 90km/h. Snow is also expected to fall across the central and northern ranges at elevations above 1,000 to 1,300 metres, which could impact transport on certain roads due to ice, even outside the usual alpine zones. How said the soggy streak will culminate on Saturday as a low-pressure system begins to form offshore. "There's another low that's developing on Saturday," How said. "So we'll see a low-pressure system off the coast of NSW — and that'll push more widespread rain, strong gusty winds and large waves. Pretty cool temperatures across much of eastern NSW." While the weekend system isn't expected to be extreme, there is potential for flash flooding in coastal pockets. "There is the potential for some pretty heavy falls on the weekend of more than 50 millimetres," How said. "We're probably looking at the Illawarra, Sydney, the Hunter — that pocket." Queensland Further north, Queensland will also feel the chill, though without quite as much rainfall. "On Friday, Saturday, that frontal system moves up the coast to bring a rain band into Queensland down to the Bay, which brings pretty unstable rainfall across southeastern Queensland. Nothing particularly heavy," said How. "Brisbane is in for a pretty cold day — 16 degrees on Saturday — and then colder out west, down to 11 degrees and a pretty cold wind as well." Western Australia The wet weather won't be confined to the east. "There's been pretty heavy rain in Perth and the southwest over the last few days," How said. "Some suburbs have already experienced persistent showers, and will again on Saturday." How said cooler air will trail behind the rain, keeping conditions unsettled heading into the weekend. Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the NT Elsewhere around the country — particularly in South Australia, Victoria, and the NT — weather conditions are relatively settled this week. Tasmania may see some light showers, but no significant systems are expected. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Climate
- News.com.au
Western Australia's stormy cold front to cross the country
Western Australia has been battered by a stormy cold front, but the weather system is only just beginning its march across the country. The past few days have brought the most widespread rainfall of the year so far to Australia, with rain in every state and territory and snow in alpine areas. But a severe storm in WA has hit the state's south west and will crawl eastwards to bring more rainfall across the nation. A warning was issued for WA as Perth was hit hard by lightning and hail. There was also risk of flash flooding in the western capital. Wilyabrup in the Margaret River region recorded 72mm of rain in just six hours overnight, while peak winds of 98km/h were experienced in Cape Naturaliste. Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Angus Hines said the stormy cold front will cross the south of the country by Tuesday. 'We'll watch this band of rains start to sweep eastwards again into South Australia, once again back into New South Wales and southern parts of Queensland on Tuesday next week. 'So this is going to be a follow-up spell of wet weather across the parts of the country which have just had a band of wet weather. 'And for most places, this will be another welcome spell of rain.' The country's east has already faced a weekend cold front as almost every capital city experienced downpours. Dry parts of South Australia, Victoria and NSW welcomed wet weather, however it still has not caught up with rainfall deficiencies this year. The upcoming band is not set to be as heavy as the weekend weather, but some areas will receive a 'top up' of up to 15mm. Monday will be dry in the north of Australia under a high pressure system. WA will still experience some showers, storms and strong winds.
SBS Australia
4 days ago
- Climate
- SBS Australia
Heavy rain and blizzard conditions to stick around for the weekend in several states
Severe weather warnings are in place for several states this weekend with heavy downpours, intense wind gusts and blizzard conditions. A large rain band moving across Australia brought soggy conditions across large parts of the country, stretching from much of central Queensland to Tasmania and over to coastal areas of South Australia. Queensland copped an "unseasonable" amount of rain including in the central highlands, where 45 millimetres was recorded in the 24 hours to Saturday morning, Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Angus Hines said. South Australia received a much-needed soaking after 18 months of below-average rainfall, with the Mount Lofty Ranges recording 40mm-60mm. "The rain that they've seen in the past 24 hours has been really bucking the trend of recent months," Hines told AAP. It brought blizzard conditions to popular alpine areas in NSW and Victoria, sparking alerts for travellers hitting the road. The state's dry west also received a drenching, with the Grampians recording falls of about 60mm. The bureau also warned of blizzard conditions in NSW alpine areas with peak gusts up to 100km/h in the Snowy Mountains on Saturday, including the lower resort slopes at Perisher and Thredbo. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service recommended back country travel be postponed until conditions improve. Hines said winds in both states had the potential to bring down trees, damage properties and cause power outages. Some 42mm fell in just four hours on Saturday morning at Gray in Tasmania's northeast after a similar amount fell in the previous 24 hours. Emergency services are keeping an eye on rising rivers. "Reduced visibility in heavy rain, with possible water over roads will make road conditions dangerous," the bureau said. Queensland and Tasmania were expected to cop the most rain late on Saturday before conditions ease on Sunday. "It's going to stay quite wintry because it will be chilly, cold temperatures, quite gusty winds, sort of showers, possibly some hail in there as well," Hines said. The next burst of national soggy weather is already forming across West Australia and will hit Perth from about noon on Sunday.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Climate
- News.com.au
‘Big system': Aussies in several states warned as wind, rain, flood risk looms
Aussies in several states are being warned to prepare as a 'big weather system' brings wind, rain, and thick clouds to huge stretches of the country this weekend. The Bureau of Meteorology has warned there is the possibility of flooding and hazardous winds in some areas. BoM senior meteorologist Angus Hines said 'good rainfall' had hit parts of the country that were going through prolonged dry spells, bringing much-needed relief to those areas. 'In general, the rainfall has been more welcome than worrying because it has been falling over parts of the country which have been very dry (and were) facing severe rainfall deficits, not just this year but through the majority of last year as well,' he said. 'For some parts, particularly South Australia and western Victoria, this has been some of the most notable rainfall of this year or potentially even the last 18 months.' The rain system is expected to move through central parts of Queensland and eastern NSW before doubling back to Tasmania. Mr Hines said the remainder of Saturday would bring wet weather across the coast, with Queensland and Tasmania likely to cop the most significant falls. Residents in Tasmania's northeast could be facing harsher conditions, with more concentrated rainfall bringing the risk of minor to moderate riverine flooding. 'There are some flood warnings and flood watches across northern and eastern Tasmania where that rainfall might just see a little bit of enhancement,' Mr Hines said. 'Away from just the rain, which is continuing across the east coast of the country today, there's still a few areas anticipating some pretty blustery wind conditions.' Strong and damaging wind warnings have been issued for parts of the Flinders Ranges in SA, the Northeastern Ranges in Victoria, some areas of the Snowy Mountains and much of Tasmania's east coast. 'All of those places will get a pretty blustery day, even outside of those warning areas' Mr Hines said. The rain band is expected to clear on Saturday night and move out across the Pacific Ocean. More wintry weather is expected, with temperatures likely to remain below average. Sydney is expected to reach a top of 19C on Saturday, with showers to ease. Woollongong will hit 18C and Newcastle 19C with steady rain. Rainfall is likely to ease in Canberra, where a maximum of 13C is expected. Melbourne is forecast to receive an isolated shower or two with a top of 14C. Adelaide's forecast features showers and a high of 14C, with Hobart in for a rainy day with a top of 13C. Those in Brisbane can expect a maximum of 23C with rain into the afternoon and evening. Perth is tipped to be sunny with a top of 16C, while Darwin will hit 31C.
