Record-breaking May warmth soon to blow away as cold front moves towards eastern Australia | Australia weather
Record-breaking hot temperatures in many parts of the country in early May will be wiped out by a cold front that will bring rain, storms and much cooler weather.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said the high pressure system was dragging warm northern winds across southeastern Australia.
Daytime temperatures on Friday were 10 to 14C above average in parts of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, while dozens of stations recorded the warmest May day on record.
In Victoria, Geelong, Shepparton and Bendigo were among the places that experienced the hottest days in history, with temperatures reaching 20 degrees, while in Tasmania, places including Hobart and Launceston broke temperature records of 26.9 degrees and 24.3 degrees, respectively.
Overnight temperatures in parts of South Australia, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and NSW were eight to 12C above average on Friday night.
Australia also experienced its driest April since 2018.
A cold front over the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica merged with a band of clouds moving over Western Australia to form the cold front that ravaged South Australia on Saturday and moved towards Victoria and Tasmania.
BoM meteorologist Christie Johnson said on Friday that there had been “unseasonably warm conditions over the past few weeks.”
“However, as we move into Sunday, we are seeing cooler air spreading across SA towards Western Victoria, with maximum temperatures dropping back to higher levels,” he said.
“And finally on Monday, cold air will move southeast with much colder temperatures.
“And given the high temperatures we’ve been experiencing lately, this will feel especially cool.”
Thunderstorms, rain, windy conditions and “abnormally high tides” were expected in southeastern Australia over the weekend and early next week.
He said there was a risk of severe storms, heavy rainfall and flash floods.
Sydney will be spared the winter storm, however, as temperatures are forecast to remain in the mid-20s for most of the week.
Sydney’s maximum temperature is expected to reach 26C on Sunday, with rain and 25C forecast for Monday. Rain is forecast all week in Melbourne, with a maximum of 23C on Sunday, dropping to 13C on Thursday.
