‘Vigorous’: Wild weather could ruin weekend

A double whammy of “vigorous” cold fronts is bearing down which could bring 100km/hr plus winds, rain, hail and snow for parts of Australia.

Meteorologists are warning of a messy weekend of weather approaching in parts of Australia with winds in excess on 100km/hr, hail, rain and snow as low as 500 meters.

“A series of cold fronts is moving through south eastern Australia”, the Bureau of Meteorology’s (BOM) Jonathan How said.

“This first cold front is coming through on Thursday with showers.

“But the second cold front behind this will bring even colder air from Friday and into Saturday for South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and also New South Wales”.

Mr How said the coldest conditions were due to sweep through on Saturday afternoon and into the evening.

“On Saturday we can expect cold air, brisk winds, showers as well as local hail and it will bring the snow level right down across Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales,” he said.

Even before the weekend, the BOM has warned weather conditions will be “vigorous” with the elevated winds.

Thursday will see the first of the cold fronts sweep across the south east. Pictures: BOM.

Winds, hail

Adelaide will see a high of 16C on Thursday with some rain.

There is likely to be similar conditions on Friday but with the addition of winds of up to 30km/hr.

By Saturday, the mercury will drop to a high of 13C, with the possibility of hail, and then 14C on Sunday with lows of 6C. Saturday could see up to 5mm of rain

In Melbourne, the temperature will only get to 14C on Thursday during a wet day with as much as 10mm coming down.

Friday will see a break between the two fronts with sunnier, drier conditions and a 16C high.

But there is more rain for the weekend with lows of just 5C first thing Sunday and then 12C across both days.

Between Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, Melbourne could see hail periods and winds up to 30km/hr.

A severe weather warning is in place for damaging winds in the Victorian Alps on Thursday of 60-70km/hr and gusts of up to 120km/hr.

It could sink to -6C or colder on the weekend in Mt Hotham, Falls Creek, Mount Buller and other ski resorts bringing snow showers,

The weekend could see some strong winds licking the south east. Picture: Windy.

Across the Bass Strait, Hobart will get chiller and windier as the weekend nears.

Mid teen highs on Thursday and Friday will slip down to 12C on Saturday and just an 11C maximum on Sunday when the early morning low could sink to 4C.

Winds of 25-35 km/h could be a feature of most days.

Snow will be very possible on kunanyi/Mount Wellington with lows of zero or even -2C on Sunday morning.

Expect a windy weekend with some rain. Picture: BOM.

A maximum of 16C in Canberra on Thursday with a possible 10mm of rain mostly during the afternoon and evening. Some more showers for Friday with a 14C high.

Expect it to get a few degrees colder in the capital on the weekend. A high of 15C on Saturday and 12C on Sunday with sub zero dawn lows. But it should remain dry.

Warm in Sydney on Thursday reaching 23C. The next couple of days could see maximums of around 20C and 10C minimums. Sunday will be cooler with a 16C high. Rain is possible on Friday.

Brisbane should see highs remaining in the twenties with mostly dry days but there could a spot or two of rain on Sunday. Thursday should see a 23C high and Saturday, 26C.

In Darwin it’s 31C days and 22C nights with no rain.

Temperatures in Perth will be around the 20C mark with 18C on Thursday and 21C on Sunday. There could be up to 10mm of rain on Thursday and between 7-25mm on a wet Sunday.

Originally published as ‘Vigorous’: Wild weather could ruin weekend