’Coldest Easter Sunday ever’: Victoria edges closer to record temperatures

One Australian city could break an all-time record this Easter weekend as another state braces for a possible category 3 tropical cyclone.

Aussies hoping for a warm reprieve over the long weekend will likely be disappointed, with one state potentially plummeting to its “coldest Easter Sunday ever”.

Melbourne’s Easter Sunday has been forecast to reach maximum temperatures of just 14.5 degrees, with meteorologists unsure if the mercury will even tip over 13 degrees.

Victoria’s coldest Easter Sunday was in 1924 where maximum temperatures reached 13.9 degrees — the second coldest fell in 1943 at a top of 14.3 degrees.

Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) senior meteorologist Matthew Thomas told NCA NewsWire that it “could be the coldest or one of the coldest” Easters ever.

“If we were to see an hour of sunshine in the afternoon we could see up to 16 or 17 degrees,” he said.

“But there’s the potential that it could be the coldest Easter Sunday ever.

“It’s going to depend very much on whether clouds remain over Melbourne.”

Melburnians will be rugging up on Sunday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Valeriu Campan

“There’s still a bit of warmth in the sun but as the season progresses and the angle of the sun lowers in the sky that warmth decreases,” Mr Thomas said.

“You require a really decent cold outbreak to push the temperatures down this time of year, there’s still reasonable sunshine which we saw on Saturday.

“Sunday could be awfully close to 13 or 14 … I’m not confident either way.”

Victorians, however, aren’t the only ones rugging up this weekend, with other states on edge for tropical storms and rain.

The Easter bunny will have to brave freezing temperatures, just like this football team. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Valeriu Campan

Western Australia residents are being urged to prepare for a tropical cyclone that is expected to hit the coast later on Sunday.

Sky News senior meteorologist Rob Sharpe warned a tropical low forming out to sea off the coast of northern Western Australia is set to develop into a cyclone on Sunday, bringing possible gales and heavy rainfall for the Kimberley Coast from Monday.

“There are showers and storms picking up over the next few days, while a severe category 3 and above (cyclone is) likely to strike WA as early as Monday but most likely Tuesday,” Mr Sharpe said.

Sky News senior meteorologist Rob Sharpe says a tropical cyclone is forming off the coast of Western Australia. Picture: Sky News

“It’s most likely to make landfall along the northern WA coast land, between Broome and Port Hedland.

“These communities need to keep a very close watch and be ready for any cyclone development.”

Mr Sharpe said the development of the tropical cyclone will see rain continue to move across the country towards the east coast throughout the week.

“It’s going to bring heavy rain, especially to WA but some of it will flow down and across the country late next week, so there’s plenty of rain on the cards across the country through the next eight or so days,” he said.

The BoM said on Sunday that there was “significant risk” that the system could become a severe tropical cyclone from Wednesday.

Queensland slammed by storms

As Western Australia prepares to bunker down, Queensland is recovering from wild hailstorms.

The BoM reported giant hail between 9cm and 11cm were found on the Darling Downs on Friday afternoon.

The Bureau also recorded wind gust of up to 104km/hr wind at Oakey following an intense weather system that passed through the southeast.

⛈️There have been reports of giant hail between 9 & 11cm on the Darling Downs this afternoon. As well as a 104km/hr wind gust at Oakey. If you have received giant hail and it is safe to do so, please help us preserve these stones for research purposes using the steps below. pic.twitter.com/vqNoy1V70T

— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) April 7, 2023

Mr Sharpe said Queensland is likely to have seen the worst of the wild weather on Friday, with conditions easing across the Easter long-weekend.

“Friday was a massive day of severe thunderstorms, it was pretty severe in Queensland,” he said.

“The worst of it was through the Granite Belt recording about 50mm (of rain), including hail up to 50mm in diameter.

“Brisbane saw a second round of storms through the night.

“There were two very large super cells that ran through the hinterland and weakened as it reached the Sunshine Coast.”

Toowoomba recorded 57.6m of rain in 24 hours from 9am on Friday while Brisbane reached a top of 27 degrees on Saturday.

Snowfall expected in New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania

While temperatures are expected to be warm in the north, south eastern states are headed for a cold snap.

Mr Sharpe said the rainfall across NSW was “hit and miss”, especially in the Sydney area on Friday.

However, residents can expect “winter like weather” to continue in the coming days.

Melbourne could have its coldest Easter ever. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Valeriu Campan

Mr Sharpe said snow is forecast today for the highlands of Tasmania and the alpine terrain in Victoria and NSW.

“Expect some wintry elements of snow and hail over the next couple of days,” he said.

“There will be snow around Tasmania, and maybe some hail in the west and the south of the state.

“It’s going to be pretty chilly.

Meteorologists say there is usually ‘still reasonable sunshine’ in the country’s southeast at this time of year. Picture: Sky

“There’s also patchy frost mainly for the elevated terrain through Monday and Tuesday mornings.”

Mr Sharpe said wet weather could continue across the week ahead but showers in the southeast are forecast to ease.

“We’ll see much of Australia drying up,” he said

“Still showery in eastern Victoria and central parts.

“There’s a line of wet weather moving into the west of Tasmania.”

Melbourne is forecast to reach a maximum temperature of 14.5 degrees on Sunday while Sydney will hit a top of 21 degrees.

Easter weekend is set to be cold and windy. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Valeriu Campan