Australia’s southern regions are bracing for a return of chilly weather as a cold front sweeps through, with frosty conditions expected to persist until the end of the week. Overnight, temperatures in parts of south-eastern Australia, including major cities, are anticipated to plummet to between -2°C and -4°C.
Senior meteorologist Jonathan How from the Bureau of Meteorology reported that Sydney experienced sub-zero temperatures during the morning commute. The wind chill factor has made it feel even colder, with the “feels-like” temperature at Sydney Airport hovering around zero degrees. Western Sydney residents are facing similar conditions, with perceived temperatures at about -1°C.
In Canberra, the morning brought bitterly cold temperatures, with a “feels-like” reading of -4°C early on, which slightly improved to 0.1°C by mid-morning. Melbourne saw a perceptible chill too, with morning temperatures registering a “feels-like” reading of 1.2°C at 7am and marginally rising to 3.8°C by 9am. Meanwhile, Adelaide’s “feels-like” temperature was recorded at 5.8°C, slightly climbing to 6.6°C later on, and Hobart’s measurement sat at a near-freezing 1.1°C in the morning.
The ongoing cold spell is predicted to cause more of the same in the coming nights and mornings. This cold mass has already resulted in significant snowfall in New South Wales overnight, particularly in Oberon, and is forecasted to bring frost across the entire eastern coastline, extending into Queensland. How noted that the snow accumulation has been substantial, particularly in alpine resorts, though it is expected to taper and concentrate at higher elevations throughout the day.
With widespread frost anticipated across New South Wales and extending into southern Queensland, meteorologist How is advising residents to prepare for the cold by dressing warmly. This wintry weather is likely to persist throughout the weekend, so locals should be ready for continued chilly temperatures and the potential for further frosty conditions.