Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane weather: Even more cold weather coming

Forecasters have warned that a freezing polar blast that hit Australia over the Easter weekend and led to temperatures far below average is here to stay.

The cold front hit the country on Good Friday and brought severe thunderstorms to parts of New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

Temperatures in NSW, Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia were between five and 10 degrees below the yearly average, leading to a bleak public holiday period for many.

In Melbourne, the temperature peaked at 15.5C on Easter Sunday, the lowest on that day since 2020.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Dean Narramore has now warned that the cold spell is set to continue across most of the country over the next week, with temperatures up to 10C below the average for this time of year.

He said the Easter weekend brought heavy rainfall, high winds and hazardous surf conditions, and those conditions would continue into Wednesday, when another weather system moves in with more heavy rainfall.

He also warned of a tropical storm that is set to ravage WA this week.

Another weather system with more heavy rainfall is set to ravage Australia this week

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Dean Narramore has warned that the cold spell is set to continue across most of the country over the next week

The tropical cyclone is developing off the coast of Kimberley and is expected to turn south and make land between Port Hedland and Broome on Thursday.

‘We’re talking winds in excess of 200km/h, possibly even 250km/h, near the core as well as very heavy rainfall that is likely to lead to widespread flash and riverine flooding,’ Mr Narramore said.

‘So, dangerous conditions [are] likely to develop up there Thursday night into Friday morning.’

Residents in areas from Port Hedland to Broome have been told to prepare for cyclonic weather ahead of the intensifying storm.

It is expected to continue growing in intensity, potentially becoming a category-four cyclone by Thursday before shifting over land.

At category-four strength, the storm is likely to lead to buildings being damaged and widespread power failures.

The rest of the country will continue facing a cold snap.

In Melbourne, some suburbs were it by 40mm of rain on Monday, while snow also fell in some places.

‘[On] Tuesday, those showers will finally ease through southern Victoria,’ Mr Narramore said.

‘We’re likely to see temperatures still 2 to 5 degrees below average before the next weather system moves in on Wednesday with another burst of widespread showers and even possible storms across much of the state, and cooler conditions continuing.’

Temperatures in NSW, Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia were between 5 and 10 degrees below the yearly average over the weekend

The BoM says ‘severe impact is likely along the coast between Port Hedland and Broome, during Thursday or Friday’

In south-east Queensland, the temperature fell to 5C on Monday and is expected to be even lower on Tuesday. 

Mr Narramore added: ‘For south-east Queensland we’re likely to see these chilly mornings continue on Tuesday and Wednesday morning, down into single figures for large parts of inland south-east Queensland.’

In Tasmania, the snow fell down to 700 metres over the weekend, while Hobart saw its coldest Easter Sunday in 17 years.  

Meanwhile, NSW saw severe storms on Friday with the bad weather leading to hazardous surf warnings along the coast. 

Sydney will continue to be hit with showers as the week progresses. 

The BOM’s strongest warning, however, was over the cyclone set to batter WA. 

Mr Narramore told ABC: ‘Those kinds of winds are likely to see widespread property damage,’

‘Bring down trees, powerlines, power outages and hundreds of millimetres of rainfall is likely to wash out roads.

‘Possible isolation and stranding of communities, residents and travellers – so yeah, some really terrible conditions up there when it does cross later this week.’