A cold front is forecast to sweep across the nation’s southeast over the weekend, bringing a chill to the air and widespread showers for millions of Australians.
The change of weather comes as unseasonable warmth has gripped the nation, just weeks away from winter.
Daytime and night-time temperatures in parts of Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia have been eight to 12 degrees above average for this time of year, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said the low and trough will deepen over the Great Australian Bight and settle over Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria on Friday night and into Saturday morning.
“(This weather system) will then move across the rest of Tasmania, Victoria and NSW on Sunday and Monday with the band of rain, strong and gusty winds and isolated thunderstorms,” he said.
“For many, it’s probably quite welcome rainfall as it’s been a dry few weeks through much of southeastern Australia.”
Mr Narramore added most affected areas could receive between 10 and 20mm of rain, with isolated heavier falls elsewhere, and will return to temperatures close to the May average from Monday.
“Mountainous areas of Victoria could receive 30 to 50mm, while western and northern areas of Tasmania is looking more in that 20 to 40mm mark,” he said.
“So a bit of a pattern shift over the southeast this weekend and back to normal programming this week.”
Looking to the weekend, Sydney is set for a shower or two on Saturday, bringing up to two millimetres of rain and a maximum of 25C, but the rain will clear on Sunday to a mostly sunny day and a top of 25C.
Melbourne can expect a mild and partly cloudy day on Saturday, reaching a high of 25C, before showers move in on Sunday bringing between two and nine millimetres of rain and a high of 23C.
A shower or two is forecast for Brisbane on Saturday with a high of 25C, while those showers may linger into Sunday, reaching 26C.
Canberra is set for a partly cloudy day on Saturday with a high of 22C, cooling to 18C on Sunday and up to 15mm of rain forecast.
Adelaide has been basking in unseasonable highs nudging 30C this week, but on Saturday showers will bring three to nine millimetres in the city and a top of 26C, while a much cooler high of 18C is expected on Sunday and up to seven millimetres of rain.
Perth is expecting cool and partly cloudy days with a high of 19C on Saturday and 22C on Sunday. A possible shower is forecast for Darwin on Saturday with a top of 33C, but will remain dry on Sunday, reaching 34C.
