Millions of Australians are bracing for the coldest day of the year so far as a powerful low-pressure system brings freezing temperatures, heavy downpours, and strong gusts across the country's southeast. Weather warnings have been issued for multiple parts of Victoria, with wet, windy, and chilly conditions expected to dominate on Thursday.
Coldest Day of the Year for Southeast
Sky News Weather Senior Meteorologist Rob Sharpe said it would likely be the coldest day of the year for much of the southeast, particularly in Victoria. Temperatures are expected to drop by two to three degrees across the region compared to Wednesday. The wind chill factor will make it feel even colder, especially for Victorians and Hobart residents.
Sharpe explained that the low-pressure system has two main pulses of rainfall: one for southern Tasmania and one for Victoria. Showers will then spread up along the New South Wales ranges, accompanied by windy weather.
Melbourne's Wet and Windy Peak
In Melbourne, the peak of the wet and windy weather will occur during the middle of the day and afternoon, before conditions gradually ease on Thursday night. The city could see a four-day rainfall total of 20mm, with most of that falling on Thursday. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a marine wind warning for multiple areas of Victoria, including gale warnings for the West, Central, Central Gippsland, and East Gippsland coasts. A coastal hazard warning for abnormally high tides has also been issued across the Central and Gippsland coastlines.
City-by-City Forecast
Sydney
Sydney is set to be partly cloudy on Thursday, with potential showers most likely in late morning and afternoon. The minimum temperature is expected to be 12 degrees Celsius, with a maximum of 20 degrees Celsius.
Melbourne
A wet day is expected in Melbourne, with a 50 per cent chance of at least 20mm of rain. The temperature will likely drop to a low of 11 degrees Celsius and reach a top of just 12 degrees Celsius.
Brisbane
Brisbane will enjoy sunny skies, with temperatures climbing to a high of 22 degrees Celsius and a low of 13 degrees Celsius.
Perth
Perth is also forecast to have a sunny day, with a cool minimum of six degrees Celsius and a high of 19 degrees Celsius.
Adelaide
Wet weather is expected in Adelaide, with a very high chance of showers. Temperatures will plunge to a low of 10 degrees Celsius and reach a top of 15 degrees Celsius.
Canberra
Canberra will experience a partly cloudy day with a high chance of showers. A chilly low of five degrees Celsius and a maximum of 11 degrees Celsius are forecast.
