Multiple states will be slapped with an oncoming and vigorous cold front, ushering in “contrasting conditions” with severe thunderstorms, strong wind gusts and wintry temperatures over the weekend.
Conditions are set to turn around Thursday as a cold front and troughs move through the south eastern parts of Australia.
The sweeping troughs are set to spark severe thunderstorms across southern South Australia, Victoria and parts of southern NSW.
“It looks like a contrast of conditions between what we’re looking ahead of and behind that front in that trough,” the Bureau of Meteorology’s Ilana Cherny said.
“For Sydney, we will see 34C on Friday, then dropping to 26C on Saturday and 22C on Sunday…quite contrasting conditions throughout the weekend,” she said.
Weatherzone reports that with strong winds, the storms “are likely to produce damaging wind gusts, with a chance of destructive winds in some areas,” with gusts exceeding 80km/hr that will strengthen to 90 to100 km/h over the ranges of Vic, alpine regions and parts of Tasmania.
“As we get later into Thursday, we could see damaging wind gusts in elevated areas of the south east NSW slopes and will likely see a severe weather warning issued for that risk later today,” Senior Meteorologist Ilana Cherny said.
A cold front will pass through late Thursday, before a secondary trough and low-pressure system pushes much colder air across the southeast on Friday, bringing distinctly wintry conditions into the weekend.
Melbourne is in for a week of grey skies and rain, with temperatures expected to fall from Thursday’s top of 27C down to just 17C by Saturday and Sunday.
Overnight lows will hover around 10C or slightly below throughout the coming weekend.
Canberra will see the coldest conditions, with temperatures forecast to drop as low as 2C on Sunday and Monday mornings.
Adelaide is expecting weekend lows of 9C, while Hobart will see overnight temperatures around 7C.
The cold outbreak is unusually intense for April, with snow levels potentially dropping to around 600 metres in parts of Tasmania.
Some snow may also appear in Victoria’s high country, though only above 1000 metres.
Cold air thunderstorms with small hail are also forecast, marking what Weatherzone describes as a “notable early-season wintry outbreak” for southeast Australia.
“Later on Friday and Saturday, we’re likely to see a dusting of snow for elevated parts of Tasmania and Victoria, and with that, it looks like a contrast of conditions between what we’re looking ahead of and behind that front in that trough,” Senior Meteorologist Ilana Cherny said.
Residents in affected areas should prepare for strong winds and ensure outdoor items are secured ahead of Thursday’s storm activity.
