Rain and cold to hit Sydney as coronavirus restrictions ease

Fully vaccinated Sydneysiders planning their first legal beach visit in months are in for a big disappointment on Monday.

Sydney’s ‘freedom day’ is set to be a cold and rainy fizzer.

Fully vaccinated Sydneysiders who have looked forward to their first legal beach visit in months on Monday may want to bring a warm jacket and an umbrella, the weather bureau has warned.

The same day restrictions will ease for the fully vaccinated, sunny and warm weather will give way for a cold front and plenty of rain.

“It's quite bad timing,” meteorologist David Wilke said.

Fully vaccinated people looking forward to a beach visit on Monday may be disappointed with the weather. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

“Conditions are expected to become a lot cooler and wetter right when NSW is opening up, so that’s not ideal for lots of people who are probably waiting to go out to do some outdoor activity or go the beach.”

The last two days of full restrictions will be mostly sunny with peak temperatures of 29C.

But as soon as Monday rolls around, the mercury will drop to between 12C and 19C.

Those temperatures will only increase by a degree or two as the week drags on, with showers expected every day until at least Friday.

“It’s a cold front, so it’s going to be reasonably windy and cloudy, and there will be rain and even a chance of thunderstorms,” Mr Wilke said.

“It’s going to be a shift (from) these warm summer-like temperatures.”

It’s supposed to rain at least until Friday next week after restrictions ease in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

From Monday, rules that have prevented people from leaving their local government area or a 5km radius from their home will be scrapped for the fully vaccinated, meaning many will be able to enjoy their first legal beach visit for over three months.

Outdoor gatherings will be allowed for groups of up to 30 fully vaccinated people.

But there will be plenty of indoor activities opening up as well – for example pubs, which will welcome customers subject to the 4sq m rule indoors and 2sq m rule outdoors.

That means a pub will need to make sure that each person drinking inside a pub can have at least 4sq m to themselves.

Originally published as Rain and cold to hit Sydney as coronavirus restrictions ease