Cold fronts bring freezing-like conditions to southern parts of Australia

Fronts crossing the southern coast of Australia are bringing freezing-like conditions, leaving millions facing a bitterly cold weekend.

Southern parts of Australia have been smashed by icy conditions, with a warm week coming to an abrupt end.

Hail, gusty winds and low-level snow are expected to sweep across southeast Australia over the weekend, while a cold front approaches WA.

A front moving across South Australia’s west facing coast will bring freezing-like conditions to other parts of southeast Australia.

Bureau of Metrology metrologist Christie Johnson said gusty winds would make it feel much colder than it was.

Cold fronts are bringing icy weather to millions of Aussies. Picture: Windy

Gusty winds sweeping through southeast parts of Australia will make it feel colder than it is this weekend. Picture: NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

She said Sunday morning would be frosty for most of South Australia, Victoria, NSW and Tasmania as the cold air moved in behind the front.

Cold air, showers and hail will also move in behind the front and could see snow at 400m in parts of Tasmania and 600m in Victoria and NSW.

Ms Johnson said the conditions could also bring snow to the Central Tablelands as well as flurries in the north.

Sydney could expect a high of 20C on Saturday, but the temperature would drop on Sunday reaching a maximum of 16C after dipping to a chilly 8C overnight.

Conditions will be colder in Melbourne with the city hitting a high of 13C on Saturday and 12C on Sunday after reaching an overnight low of 5C.

Snow is expected in low-level alpine regions of Tasmania, Victoria and NSW. Picture:NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

Adelaide will experience similar conditions, reaching 13C on Saturday and 14C on Sunday, with an overnight low of 6C.

It’s colder again in Hobart, with the southern city reaching a high of 12C on Saturday and 10C on Sunday.

A cloud band extending through Northern NSW and the Northern Territory would see some areas hit with patchy rain and thunderstorms around the NSW and Queensland border.

Brisbane could expect temperatures around the mid 20s across the weekend dipping to an overnight low of 15C.

The tail end of a cold front hitting SA will move towards southern parts of WA and join a trough which should bring patchy showers on Saturday. Picture: NewsWire/Ian Currie

The tail end of a cold front hitting SA will move towards southern parts of WA and join a trough which should bring patchy showers to those areas.

A cold front is expected to lash the southwest coast on Sunday night bringing showers which would continue into Monday.

Perth will experience mild conditions across the weekend with a high of 20C on Saturday and 19C on Sunday after an overnight low of 11C.

While the rest of the country freezes during winter, northern parts of Australia will experience warm conditions throughout the entire weekend.

It will be a nice and balmy 31C in Darwin on Saturday and 32C on Sunday.

Originally published as Cold fronts bring freezing-like conditions to southern parts of Australia