Australia’s eastern states are facing a gloomy end to the week, with a sweeping cold front forecast to bring “heavy falls” and cool temperatures.
Wet and windy conditions have lashed parts of South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria over the past few days, with New South Wales and parts of Queensland now in the firing line.
Sky News Weather Meteorologist Marina Neuman explained “unseasonably high” rain totals across the interior of SA looked set to continue, while widespread falls were forecast along parts of the east coast on Friday morning.
“Rainfall will continue for many,” she said.
“We’re seeing the potential for some high totals as well, just in the next coming hours, especially for Queensland, as well as across the alpines.
“Starting to see the better chance for rainfall across the eastern coastline, there’s heavy falls across Dubbo, as well as Orange.”
Colder temperatures are also in store for many areas as the front pushes through on Friday, with cool conditions forecast to stretch into the weekend.
SA locals should at least get a slight reprieve on Saturday, though, as a high pressure system slowly brings warmer and direr weather to the state.
The cold front’s arrival could spell disaster for skiers, potentially washing away much of the early season snow.
“We could be seeing totals from Thursday (to Friday) reaching at least 50 millimetres in the alpines just in that 24 hour period, which, despite the drop in temperature, could bring severe impacts to those snowfields,” Neuman explained.
“We’re unfortunately looking at the potential for all our accumulated snowfall, early on into the season, to really be washed away.”
Neuman added there was “a chance for some additional snowfall in the forecast”, but it would likely be limited to a few centimetres across the highest peaks.
National forecast for FridaySydney
A grey end to the week is expected in Sydney, with morning showers likely.
A top of 21 degrees and a low of 16 are forecast.
Melbourne
Melbourne is set for a wet and windy day on Friday.
The mercury is expected to climb no higher than 15 degrees, with an 11-degree low expected.
Brisbane
Partly cloudy conditions are forecast in Queensland’s capital.
Temperatures are forecast to range between a low of 14 degrees and a high of 24.
Canberra
Canberra is in for another grey and rainy day.
A low of 10 degrees and a top of just 14 are forecast in the nation’s capital.
Adelaide
Wet and windy conditions are expected in Adelaide on Friday.
South Australia’s capital is forecast to see a low of 11 degrees and a high of 15.
Hobart
Hobart locals can expect partly cloudy conditions and showers to close out the week.
A top of 15 degrees and a low of 11 degrees are expected.
Perth
A foggy start is forecast in Western Australia’s capital before conditions clear heading into the afternoon.
Temperatures will likely range between a low of four degrees and a high of 18.
Darwin
A chance of scattered showers is forecast in Darwin on Friday.
Conditions will otherwise be warm, with a top of 31 degrees and a low of 22 degrees expected.