A cold front is barrelling towards southeast Australia, bringing plummeting temperatures, wintry hail, and strong winds. Melbourne is bracing for a bitter Thursday as the front moves in from the Southern Ocean.
Melbourne's Weather Forecast
Meteorologist Jane Bunn warned that while Melbourne city is experiencing a short dry break, the reprieve will be short-lived. "It's hard to miss the next cold front that is barrelling towards us," Bunn said. "Thursday will be bitterly cold with wintry hail." Temperatures in the city will hit a high of 20 degrees Celsius on Wednesday but struggle to reach 13 degrees Celsius on Thursday, with the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) forecasting it will feel more like 7 degrees Celsius.
Wind Warnings Issued
Strong and gale-force wind warnings have been issued for Port Phillip, Western Port, West Coast, Central Coast, Central Gippsland Coast, and East Gippsland Coast on Wednesday and Thursday. The cold front is moving up from the Southern Ocean on Wednesday and heading east on Thursday, out over the southern Tasman Sea where a low pressure system is building, according to the BOM.
First Cold Burst of the Year
The BOM said this is the first cold burst of the year to hit so much of the nation's southeast. The eastern suburbs of Melbourne are expected to bear the brunt of the weather system, but rainfall is largely expected to clear up by the weekend.
Tasmania and Other Areas Affected
Tasmania, especially its western regions, will also feel the force of the front, with areas in the state expected to receive up to 50 millimetres of rain on Friday night. "For Tasmania, snow is possible above about 500 metres. For Victoria, that's 600 metres, which does mean possible flurries for the Grampians as well as the Macedon Ranges," the BOM said.
Residents are advised to stay updated with the latest warnings and prepare for the sudden change in conditions. The cold snap is expected to ease by the weekend, with temperatures gradually recovering.
