An intense cold front lashed Australia on Sunday, with heavy showers, ranging winds and snow set to continue to batter the country this week – with worse to come.
Gusts of 137 km/h were recorded in Tasmania on Monday morning, the strongest winds recorded this year.
Similar winds were reported across several other states including NSW and Victoria.
Rain also fell across parts of Victoria and Tasmania with a so-called ‘tempestuous blast’ bringing severe weather warnings across the southeast.
The high-pressure system over the southeastern states is likely to drop temperatures during the week, promising chilly mornings for Aussies in Victoria and parts of NSW.
It will bring snow to those areas with higher elevation – including the Alps, Perisher, and regions of Tasmania.
On Monday morning, temperatures hovered between seven and 11 degrees in Hobart, Melbourne, Canberra, and even Sydney.
Colder mornings and nights are anticipated to continue, accompanied by a heightened risk of widespread frost enveloping the southeast.
The frosty phenomenon may even extend into the southern reaches of Queensland, forecasters warned.
Since this is only the dawn of winter, the middle to later part of next week holds even colder temperatures.
According to forecasters, a ‘sequence of robust low-pressure systems looms on the horizon’ for Aussies next week.
This could unleash more significant winds, rainfall, and snow upon the southeast.
‘Into Monday morning there’s widespread frost potential through NSW, Victoria, the ACT,’ said Sky News meteorologist Bradlyn Oakes, ‘a couple of areas of South Australia and Tasmania, also frost up into southern Queensland.’
‘Just be prepared for that almost every day this week,’ she said.
‘Thursday night into Friday, that’s when we see that snow starting to fall.’
Surfers, rock fishers, and all boat users were also warned that gale force winds could lead ‘very heavy surf’ and large waves across the NSW coastline, including the Illawarra, Sydney, and Hunter coasts regions – namely Seal Rocks and Nelson Bay