Cyclone and snow forecast for long weekend

Sky News senior meteorologist Rob Sharpe warned a tropical low is forming out to sea off the coast of northern Western Australia.

“There are showers and storms picking up over the next few days, while a severe category 3 and above (cyclone is) likely to strike WA as early as Monday but most likely Tuesday,” Mr Sharpe said.

“It’s most likely to make landfall along the northern WA coast land, between Broome and Port Hedland.

“These communities needs to keep a very close watch and be ready for any cyclone development.”

Mr Sharpe said the development of the tropical cyclone will see rain continue to move across the country towards the east coast throughout the week.

“It’s going to bring heavy rain, especially to WA but some of it will flow down and across the country late next week, so there’s plenty of rain on the cards across the country through the next eight or so days,” he said.

“There will be generally light falls in the south east.”

Queensland slammed by storms

As the western state prepares to bunker down, Queensland has been struck by wild hailstorms.

The Bureau of Meteorology reported giant hail between 9cm and 11cm were found on the Darling Downs on Friday afternoon.

The Bureau also recorded wind gust of up to 104km/hr wind at Oakey following an intense weather system that passed through the southeast.

Mr Sharpe said Queensland is likely to have seen the worst of the wild weather on Friday, with conditions easing across the Easter long-weekend.

“Friday was a massive day of severe thunderstorms, it was pretty severe in Queensland,” he said.

“The worst of it was through the Granite Belt recording about 50mm (of rain), including hail up to 50mm in diameter.

“Brisbane saw a second round of storms through the night.

“There were two very large super cells that ran through the hinterland and weakened as it reached the Sunshine Coast.”

Toowoomba recorded 57.6m of rain in 24 hours from 9am on Friday.

Brisbane is forecast to reach a top of 30 degrees on Saturday.

Snowfall expected in New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania

While temperatures are expected to be warm in the north, south eastern states are headed for a cold snap.

Mr Sharpe said the rainfall across NSW was “hit and miss”, especially in the Sydney area on Friday.

However, residents can expect “winter like weather” to continue in the coming days.

Mr Sharpe said snow is forecast today for the highlands of Tasmania and the alpine terrain in Victoria and NSW.

“Expect some wintry elements of snow and hail over the next couple of days,” he said.

“There will be snow around Tasmania, and maybe some hail in the west and the south of the state.

“It’s going to be pretty chilly.

“Wintertime average temperatures as their maximums on Easter Sunday and into Monday it still remains quite chilly but not as windy.

“There’s also patchy frost mainly for the elevated terrain through Monday and Tuesday mornings.”

Mr Sharpe said wet weather could continue across the week ahead but showers in the southeast are forecast to ease up.

“We’ll see much of Australia drying up,” he said

“Still showery in eastern Victoria and central parts.

“There’s a line of wet weather moving into the west of Tasmania.”

Sydney is forecast to reach a top of 25 degrees on Saturday, while Melbourne will hit a top of 17 degrees.