Weather News

Blustery change marching east

Ben Domensino, Friday August 19, 2016 - 12:43 AEST

A wintry change is sweeping record-breaking heat out of Victoria today as it move towards Australia's east coast.

Cold fronts are always preceded by warmer air and at this time of year it is not uncommon to have a 10 degree contrast on either side of a change. In spring, this difference can push towards 20 degrees as air becomes even warmer ahead of the change.

Adelaide had the warmest day since May yesterday as gusty northerly winds pushed the mercury up to 25 degrees, eight above average for this time of year. A cool change swept through the city in the late afternoon and in its wake today, the temperature will only reach the mid teens.

Warm northerly winds ahead of the front affected Melbourne last night preventing the temperature from dropping below 16.3 degrees. According to the Bureau of Meteorology this was Melbourne's warmest overnight minimum on record for August.

Melbourne's temperature will drop to a near-average low of six degrees overnight as winds ease behind the front. Tomorrow's high in the mid-teens will even be a few degrees cooler than it was throughout last night.

Canberra and Sydney have both experienced above average daytime temperatures all week, but this will come to an end when the change reaches both cities tonight. The nations capital can expect to be about 10 degrees cooler than today on Saturday, while Sydney will only reach the mid-to-high teens tomorrow for the first time in two weeks.

Temperatures are not the only noteworthy feature of this front. Dangerous winds, heavy rain and snow will all accompany the system in the next 24 hours.

Winds ahead of the front may be damaging in parts of Victoria and New South Wales today, with destructive gusts possible on the Alps. Calmer conditions return over the weekend.

A band of rain accompanying the front has prompted a flood watch in Victoria's North East, where 50mm could accumulate by Saturday morning.

Colder air behind the front will cause today's rain in the Alps to start falling as snow from tonight. The weekend is looking good on the slopes with calmer conditions and further snow showers likely each day.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2016

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