Cold front brings strong Sydney winds as most states brace for heat

Showers and some strong winds are battering the southeast Australian coast to start the working week.

A cold front moving up Australia’s southeast coast has given Tasmania and Victoria a chilly start to the week, as Sydney cops some strong winds.

The system intensified overnight Sunday into Monday, bringing wet weather to Tasmania and Victoria, but those showers should ease in the evening as it starts to move into southern NSW.

Sydney was lashed by some strong winds on Monday afternoon. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

Sydney itself copped some storm action about 3pm Monday, when a heavy downpour combined with windy conditions lashed the city.

A wind gust of 82km/h was recorded at the airport at 3.10pm, and a tree was brought down over train tracks at Guildford, cancelling services between Cabramatta and Granville on the T2 Inner West & Leppington Line, and the T5 Cumberland Line.

Trains are not running between Granville and Cabramatta in both directions due to a tree blocking the track at Guildford.

Trains currently between Granville and Cabramatta have been stopped on platforms.

Updates to follow. pic.twitter.com/TiOvENSBwF

— T2 Sydney Trains (@T2SydneyTrains) October 16, 2023

But a high pressure system building over Victoria into Tuesday will flip the dial and bring hotter, drier conditions to much of the nation’s south.

While most of the country’s northern and western regions will experience warmer-than-average conditions as winds from the northeast bring hot, dry air from the Great Sandy Desert through central and southwestern Australia.

Here’s a look at what the capitals can expect heading towards the weekend:

SYDNEY

Dropping down to 12C on Monday night, before a cloudy top of 19C Tuesday and a medium chance of coastal showers.

Those showers will ease off into Wednesday, cloudy and 21C, before a partly cloudy 23C Thursday, sunny and 25C Friday, and staying sunny up to 27C by Saturday.

MELBOURNE 

Down to 9C overnight on Monday, but those showers should be long gone by Tuesday when the cloud cover clears and it gets to a top of 17C.

Sunny and 23C on Wednesday, staying sunny and 26C on Thursday and Friday, before a cloudy weekend, tops staying around 26C.

Sky Weather meteorologist Alison Osborne showing Monday's warm weather over Australia's north and western regions.

HOBART

The cold front moves leaving nothing but sunshine and a top of 20C on Tuesday, with more sunshine and a top of 20C on Wednesday.

Dropping back to a partly cloudy 22C on Thursday, before a return to showers and 17C on Friday and similar conditions into the weekend.

BRISBANE 

Down to 18C overnight Monday before a sunny 27C on Tuesday.

The sunshine won’t last but; it’s cloudy with a top of 24C on Wednesday and Thursday, becoming partly cloudy and 27C on Friday, and that cloud cover clearing Saturday when it’s getting up to 29C.

ADELAIDE

A chilly 7C the overnight minimum into Tuesday, but it’s shaping up to be a sunny day with a top of 22C.

Getting warmer Wednesday with more sunshine and 27C, and 30C forecast for Thursday, before dropping back to a partly cloudy 26C Friday, and cooling right off into the weekend with cloud and tops around 20C.

DARWIN 

Sunny and warm for the NT as usual, 24C overnight Monday with a mostly sunny 35C on Tuesday, and more of the same right into the weekend when there’s the chance of a late shower and storm on Saturday.

PERTH 

Perth eyeing off some weather records, cooling to 15C overnight Monday after reaching 36C during the day.

Staying mostly sunny but down to 27C Tuesday, partly cloudy and 25C Wednesday through Friday, and a partly cloudy 28C forecast for Saturday.