Winter blast set to affect millions

Forecasters have said temperatures across Victoria, Tasmania and southern NSW may peak at just 15C on Monday. That’s 5-10C colder than usual for this time of year.

It will be almost as cold at 3pm on Monday as 3am on Sunday.

“The proper cool change comes through late Sunday into South Australia and that will drop temperatures big time as we move into Monday,” Sky News Weather meteorologist Rob Sharpe said.

“It’s going to feel just like it did on Melbourne Cup day in Melbourne.”

A reasonably warm couple of days in Victoria’s capital to end the week will then sink down to that mid-teen high on Monday, with the same in Hobart. And then the mercury will head back up again.

“We’re seeing this classic involvement of the ‘spring swing’ in southeastern Australia,” said Mr Sharpe.

That will also see heavy rain at times sweep through.

But away from the southeastern states, it could be warm and dry.

Meteorological website Weatherzone stated that “yet another” strong cold front was heading from west to east.

“It would be classed as a strong cold storm in June, July or August, but as November systems go, it is seriously cold,” Weatherzone’s Anthony Sharwood wrote.

As cold at 3pm as 3am

First to face up to the chill will be South Australia. Highs of 25C in Adelaide on Friday and Saturday will drop to 19C on Sunday and then 17C on Monday. The low to start the week will be 10C.

Showers on Friday will get heavier on Saturday with as much as 20mm in the gauge. A storm is possible on Saturday and then further rain on Sunday with spits and spots on Monday.

Friday and Saturday in Melbourne will peak at around 24C with lows in the mid-teens. Friday will be sunny but thunderstorms could spoil the fun on Saturday afternoon with around 10mm of rain and more showers on Sunday.

Temperatures will dip to a maximum of 19C on Sunday. On Monday, expect just 15C at 3pm – only slightly warmer than the minimum of 13C forecast for Sunday night.

It’s a similar story across the rest of Victoria with a stormy Saturday and then a chilly Monday. Indeed it could actually be wetter outside of Melbourne, particular on Saturday.

Hobart will go from a high of 18C on Friday and 22C on Saturday to 15C on Monday with a low of 7C to start the week. Between Friday and Sunday 5-16mm of rain could fall.

And it will be much wetter on Tasmania’s west coast with Strahan expected to see developing rain on Saturday and then 20-30mm on Sunday and up to 35mm on Monday.

Canberra’s journey into cold starts with highs in the low twenties over the next couple of days, then 18C on Sunday and 13C on Monday. A low of 7C on Monday is to be expected. Showers could be seen most days.

Toasty in northern NSW, Queensland, WA

Southern parts of NSW, such as Wagga Wagga, will feel the chill on Monday as well some showers.

But not Sydney and points north.

“Sydney, Newcastle Port Macquarie – dry as a bone no rain on the way,” Mr Sharpe said.

“It’s been a while since we’ve been able to see that kind of thing for more than a week at a time.”

In fact it’s hotting up for the Harbour City. Friday’s 22C high will rise to 24C on Saturday and then almost 30C on Sunday when beaches will beckon. On Monday, there will be only a slight dip to 26C. Overnight lows should be around the mid-teens but on Saturday night it won’t fall below 19C in Sydney.

Also warm in Brisbane with 26C on Friday then up to 32C on Saturday, when storms and up to 8mm of rain could roll through, and a very toasty 34C on Sunday. The lows will be between 16-21C.

Townsville is looking at the next seven days north of 30C with 33C the norm. On Monday a storm could be on the cards.

Perth will reach 17C on Friday with a low of 11C overnight. Then the mercury rises to 20C on Saturday, 23C on Sunday and 29C on Monday. Tuesday could see the city break the 30C barrier.

Friday will be wet with 1-5mm of moisture but other than that mostly dry in Perth.

Rain building up in Darwin with up to 10mm possible most days as storms barrel through. Highs of 34C with overnight lows of 26C.