Wintery blast to lash southeast Australia
Written by admin on July 13, 2024
A dusting of snow could fall on parts of southeast Australia as a low pressure weather system deepens off the coast – with freezing temperatures, strong winds and rain and dangerous surf forecast over the coming days.
Inland parts of NSW, Victoria and Tasmania could cop the brunt of the wintery blast as the low pressure system moves over the southern Tasman Sea.
The Bureau of Meteorology has already forecast multiple warnings and watches for the trio of states well into Tuesday.
One has already been issued to sheep graziers in the Snowy Mountains forecast district of NSW, along with parts of the Northern Tablelands, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands and South West Slopes forecast districts.
“Sheep graziers are warned that cold temperatures, showers and westerly winds are expected during Saturday and Sunday,” the bureau’s warning, issued on Saturday, states.
“There is a risk of losses of lambs and sheep exposed to these conditions.”
In Victoria, frosts with temperatures down to -1C are forecast for Sunday morning in parts of the North East forecast district.
A severe weather warning has also been issued for multiple areas across Tasmania – including the South East, North East, East Coast, North West Coast, Central North, Central Plateau and Midlands forecast districts – as a result of the system.
The bureau had earlier forecast falls of up to 50mm on the capital, which could spread inland to NSW and Victoria.
Strong to damaging winds with gusts of up to 100kmh are forecast to develop about the southeast Tasmanian coast from late Sunday afternoon, continuing into Monday.
In the Western Tiers and elevated terrain forecast district, and in the northeast and their immediate lee slopes, gusts could reach up to 110kmh.
“As the low pressure system moves closer on Monday morning, broader areas of damaging winds may also develop about other areas of the state, particularly as the wind direction shifts to become southeasterly,” the bureau’s warning states.
“Locations which may be affected include Sheffield and Deloraine.”
Hazardous surf warnings are also in place for Queensland’s Gold Coast region while NSW, Victoria and Tasmania also have marine wind warnings in place.
Maximum temperatures in Sydney are only set to hover around 16-17C for the duration of the week.
The low pressure system could also bring a dusting of snow to the Central and even Northern Tablelands regions, meteorologist Dean Narramore said on Friday.
In Hobart, temperatures will only peak around 10C on Sunday.
The maximum is forecast to drop to 9C on Wednesday, then 11C on Thursday and Friday.
The Tasmanian capital is also forecast to receive rainfall totals of up to 35mm on Monday, set to continue throughout the week.
Melbourne will also cop part of the rain band, with up to 20mm to fall on the city by Monday.
Over the weekend, temperatures will remain around a maximum of 11C, before hovering between 12-13C over the week.
In Queensland, Brisbane is set to remain around the high teens, and up to a maximum of 20C on Sunday.
