Australians can expect wildly different weather on Christmas Day, with Perth and Brisbane set to swelter while Melbourne and Hobart brace for cool conditions. The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts Perth to reach 41C and Brisbane 35C, making them the hottest capital cities on Thursday. In contrast, Melbourne is predicted to top 17C and Hobart 16C.
Senior meteorologist Jonathan How said if Melbourne only reaches 17C, it will be the city's coldest Christmas Day since 2006. There is a chance of a morning shower in Melbourne, while wet weather is also forecast across western Tasmania. How noted that light snow flurries could occur about elevated country on Christmas morning.
Brisbane will experience very muggy conditions with a possible shower or thunderstorm in the afternoon. Storms and rain are forecast from above the Sunshine Coast to Cairns, across most of the Northern Territory, and over Western Australia's Kimberley region. Darwin and Cairns have predicted maximum temperatures in the low 30s, while parts of WA's Pilbara could reach the low to mid 40s.
Adelaide will see milder weather with a maximum of 25C on Christmas Day and 29C on Boxing Day. Sydney and Canberra will also be pleasant, with tops in the mid 20s. The huge variance stems from a high-pressure system over the Great Australian Bight, which is not uncommon for this time of year.
Heatwave conditions persist in eastern and north-eastern NSW, and southern and south-east Queensland on Sunday. Total fire bans have been declared for five NSW districts and the Mallee in Victoria's west. Severe thunderstorm warnings have been issued for parts of Victoria's east and north-east as well as western NSW, with communities told to brace for heavy rain, destructive winds, and possible tornadoes.
