Polar blast headed for eastern Australia states

Temperatures are set to plunge below freezing this week as a polar blast rolls through Australia’s eastern states.

Temperatures are set to plunge below freezing this week as a polar blast rolls through Australia’s eastern states.

The cold change, which formed in Western Australia late last week and moved to Victoria on Tuesday, is expected to expand into central and eastern NSW and southeast Queensland later in the week.

Temperatures of below 5 and 6C will be widespread in the region, according to Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Miriam Bradbury.

In some areas, temperatures could even drop below zero, triggering frost warnings.

“Definitely pull out the extra doona,” Ms Bradbury told Channel 9.

The BOM said the “vigorous cold front” will reach the southeast by Thursday or Friday.

“Blustery conditions will follow in its wake; cool and wet with the risk of small hail,” it warned.

A vigorous cold front will sweep across southern #Aus this week.

It'll arrive in #WA later today before reaching the south-east states by Thurs/Fri.

Blustery conditions will follow in its wake; cool and wet with the risk of small hail.🌧️

Latest: https://t.co/4W35o8i7wJpic.twitter.com/Iek9Qp0f7b

— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) July 18, 2023

Sky meteorologist Alison Osborne said temperatures will be “noticeably cooler” in Sydney from Wednesday, with a brief risk of showers on Friday, Sunday and Monday. Temperatures are forecast to dip as low as 6C on Thursday, warming up to just 20C.

The weather in Canberra is forecast to plunge below freezing, with a frosty minimum temperature of -5C on Thursday and -3C on both Wednesday and Saturday. Minimum temperatures in the nation’s capital are not forecast to crack 3C all week long, with morning frost most days.

There is a high chance of showers in Melbourne on Thursday, with the added possibility of “very gusty” winds, Ms Osborne said. Minimum temperatures are forecast to sit at between 6 and 9C this week, warming up to between 14 and 15C.

Hobart, too, will be cool, with on-and-off showery days until the end of the week. Minimum temperatures in the city will dip to as low as 4C, with maximum temperatures forecast to sit at between 12 and 16C.

Adelaide will also shiver through a chilly start on Wednesday with the minimum temperature below 3C. Minimum temperatures in Adelaide are forecast to remain in the single-digits all week long, warming up to between 14 and 18C.

Perth will see showers from Wednesday with the potential for thunderstorms in the south, but the rain is expected to clear before the weekend. Minimum temperatures are forecast to hover between 8 and 11C, warming up to between 17 and 22C.

Brisbane, meanwhile, will stay warm, having experienced a showery day on Tuesday before the skies above the city cleared. Temperatures are expected to stay above average from Wednesday, with a maximum temperature of 24C on Friday, though the risk of showers may return from the start of next week.

Balmy dry season weather is forecast to hold up in Darwin, with maximum temperatures in the low-30s all week long.