‘Polar air mass’ brings wind, snow to Australia’s southeast

Wind will pick up across much of NSW on Friday and into the weekend, with frost and chilly weather forecast.

A polar air mass from the Southern Ocean is set to bring some windy and chilly conditions heading into the weekend for much of Australia’s southeast.

A strong cold front will spread over NSW over Friday and into Saturday, bringing the possibility of snow over the central and northern ranges.

A polar wind mass is moving towards Australia over Friday and into the weekend, bringing a strong cold front over NSW. Picture: Weatherzone

But showers and increasing westerly winds over the state on Friday could see gusts up of to 80km/h in some areas, and even isolated gusts of up to 90km/h, Weatherzone reports.

Strong wind and gale warnings have been issued for Hunter Coast, Sydney Coast, and Illawarra Coast.

Winds gusts will increase across NSW over Friday, but the Alps may get some snowfall.

They predict snow could fall at 900m to 1000m elevation in southern and central NSW over Friday and into Saturday, with the chance of some powder about 1000m in the state’s north.

Parts of Tasmania and southeastern Victoria will also be affected by the cold front, with Melbourne recording a top of just 12C on Friday.

Snow lovers in the north of NSW may be in luck with small falls predicted Friday into Saturday.

Here’s a look at the nation’s capitals over the weekend and into next week:

SYDNEY

Those strong westerly winds will continue over Friday with a top of 19C, before dropping down to 9C overnight into Saturday.

The rain clears to sunshine on Saturday, another top of 19C, with more sunshine Sunday and Monday with tops of 21C, mostly sunny Tuesday and 23C, and sunny and 22C on Wednesday.

CANBERRA 

A very high chance of showers easing Friday afternoon, a top of 11C, before it gets very chilly overnight dropping to -2C.

Partly cloudy on Saturday with patches of morning frost and a top of 13C, similar conditions and up to 17C Sunday through Tuesday when there’s a medium chance of late showers, easing into Wednesday.

HOBART 

Cloudy with a medium chance of showers on Friday, easing in the afternoon, with a top of 13C. Cloudy and 16C on Saturday and Sunday, before the slight chance of a shower and 17C the top for Monday.

More cloud cover and a medium chance of showers Tuesday with a top of 16C, and similar conditions with a top of 14C Wednesday.

MELBOURNE 

Cloudy with a very high chance of showers Friday, easing in the afternoon, with a top of 12C. Dropping to 7C overnight into Saturday, when there’s a medium chance of showers, more likely over the Dandenongs, and a top of 16C.

Cloudy with a top of 17C Sunday, building to a high chance of showers and 18C on Monday. Similar conditions and 17C on Tuesday, before the showers ease to a medium chance and a top of 16C on Wednesday.

BRISBANE 

Partly cloudy with a medium chance of showers and a top of 27C Friday, down to 12C overnight, the cloud cover clearing to a sunny 22C on Saturday.

Staying sunny and 24C Sunday, a partly cloudy 24C Monday with similar conditions Tuesday, clearing to a mostly sunny 27C Wednesday.

ADELAIDE 

Partly cloudy with a medium chance of showers and the possibility of small hail on Friday, a top of 14C, before dropping down to 9C overnight. Showers building to a high chance on Saturday with a top of 16C, with similar conditions on Sunday and 17C.

Easing back to a medium chance of showers and 18C on Monday, similar conditions Tuesday and 16C the top, with more of the same on Wednesday.

DARWIN

Sunny and a top of 32C Friday, down to 21C overnight before sunshine carries right through into next week with tops in the low-to-mid 30Cs throughout.

PERTH 

Partly cloudy and 20C max on Friday, down to 7C overnight, with partly cloudy conditions carrying through Saturday to Tuesday — tops staying in the low-20Cs.

The cloud cover clears on Wednesday with a top of 22C.

Originally published as ‘Polar air mass’ brings wind, snow to Australia’s southeast