Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth weather: Polar blast strikes, when it will end
A powerful blast of cold air from Antarctica has plunged most of the country into a winter-like chill - but warmer weather is on the way later this week.
A powerful blast of cold air from Antarctica has plunged most of the country into a winter-like chill - but warmer weather is on the way later this week.
This weather system has brought below-average temperatures to Tasmania, Victoria, NSW, South Australia, and Queensland.
At the moment, we have a high-pressure system that basically locks all that cold air over Australia, and its just circulating it around, explained Weatherzone meteorologist Maryam Al-Ansari.
And thats why were seeing those really chilly temperatures at the moment.
High-pressure systems generally mean that air is super stable, we dont have those clouds at night which can insulate the earth from moving all its daytime heat.
So were getting really cold nights and waking up to frost.
Most of Australia will be shivering over the next two days before the weather starts to warm up (pictured commuters rugged up)
The cold front is caused by last weeks Antarctic air becoming trapped in a high pressure system, which is circulating it around most of the country (pictured weather map)
Sydney will remain chilly for the next two days. On Tuesday morning, the city experienced temperatures of 9.3C while outer suburbs like Campbelltown saw temperatures drop to just 3C
The mercury will rise by Thursday - making the conditions ideal for bushfires.
At the moment, were starting to see winds pick up as the high pressure moves towards the east - that movement will start to bring in the warmth from Australias centre.
We do have an extreme fire danger rating, Ms Al-Ansari said.
We are looking at reaching into the mid to high 20C on Thursday and thats coupled with an increase in wind speed as well.
Melbourne has been warmer than other cities on the East Coast due to its cloud coverage combined with northerly winds, but it might experience some isolated showers.
The high pressure system will reach Brisbane today, creating strong winds along the coast.
However, temperatures are expected to warm up and possibly reach 30C by Sunday.
Well see more cloud coverage, and it is 2C lower than the average for this time of the year, but temperatures are looking to increase over the weekend, Ms Al-Ansari.
But the cold weather has blasted Tasmania, with Tuesday mornings 8.7C feeling like 1C due to the pretty intense gusts over Tasmania.
Perth is not experiencing the cold temperatures from the high pressure system (pictured stock photo of people at beach)
Although other cities will begin to warm up in the next two days, Canberra will stay cold. A new cold front arriving on Thursday will cause temperatures to drop even further.
On Tuesday morning, Canberra saw temperatures drop to a freezing -2.4C, and Wednesday morning is expected to be around 0C.
Perth is experiencing higher-than-average temperatures, but they are expected to drop next week.
Meanwhile, Darwin continues with its typical tropical weather pattern before the wet season, with temperatures reaching over 30C this week
Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then becoming light in the evening. Max 24.
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. The chance of fog in the early morning. Light winds becoming north to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the early afternoon. Min 13 Max 25.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then tending northerly 15 to 25 km/h during the afternoon. Min 13 Max 29.
Sydney
Tuesday: Sunny. Light winds, tending northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h near the coast in the afternoon. Max 22.
Wednesday: Sunny. Light winds becoming west to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h in the morning then becoming light in the evening. Min 9 Max 27.
Thursday: Sunny. Winds northwesterly 25 to 35 km/h tending westerly 25 to 40 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening. Min 14 Max 27.
Melbourne
Tuesday: Cloudy morning, sunny breaks developing in the afternoon. Slight chance of a shower in the morning. Winds westerly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light in the evening then becoming north to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the late evening. Max 17.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny day. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the evening. Winds north to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h tending west to northwesterly 30 to 45 km/h during the day. Min 8 Max 20.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers. Winds westerly 25 to 40 km/h. Min 10 Max 17.
Adelaide
Tuesday: Sunny. Winds west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the late afternoon. Max 19.
Wednesday: Sunny. Winds northerly 15 to 20 km/h turning westerly 25 to 40 km/h in the middle of the day. Min 8 Max 22.
Thursday: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Winds west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending west to southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h during the morning. Min 11 Max 17.
Perth
Tuesday: Sunny. Winds north to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h turning west to northwesterly in the middle of the day then tending southeast to southwesterly in the late afternoon. Max 27.
Wednesday: Sunny. Light winds becoming southerly 20 to 30 km/h in the middle of the day then tending southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the evening. Min 11 Max 24.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. Winds east to southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h tending south to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day. Min 10 Max 23.
Hobart
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds northwesterly 25 to 35 km/h. Max 14.
Wednesday: Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Possible small hail in the late afternoon and evening. Winds west to northwesterly 30 to 45 km/h. Min 9 Max 15
Thursday: Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Possible small hail in the afternoon and evening. Winds northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h increasing to 30 to 45 km/h during the morning then tending westerly 25 to 35 km/h during the afternoon. Min 5 Max 13.
There is a high chance of showers this week in Hobart, combined with very cold temperatures (pictured stock photo of people walking in rain)
Darwin
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, becoming less likely in the late morning. The chance of a thunderstorm early this morning. Winds southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light in the evening. Max 31.
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Winds southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h turning easterly 20 to 30 km/h in the morning then becoming light in the evening. Min 23 Max 32.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds easterly 15 to 25 km/h turning northeasterly during the day. Min 25 Max 33.
Darwin continues to follow its own tropical weather system and will experience 30C days this week (Pictured Mindil Beach, Darwin)
Canberra
Tuesday: Sunny. Winds northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h tending westerly 20 to 30 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the evening. Max 19.
Wednesday: Sunny. Patches of frost in the early morning. Winds northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h tending west to northwesterly 30 to 45 km/h in the morning then becoming northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h in the evening. Min 2 Max 18.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the afternoon. Winds northwesterly 30 to 45 km/h tending westerly 20 to 30 km/h during the evening. Min 5 Max 18.
