“So it was chalk and cheese Saturday to Sunday through that Sydney area,” News24 senior meteorologist Rob Sharpe said.
Sydneysiders woke to a bitterly cold start to Sunday as a cold front swept Australia’s east coast, plunging temperatures by 10C in a single day, news.com.au reported. The Harbour City climbed from a low of just 11C to a top of 19C despite summer being only weeks away, but Weatherzone’s “feels like” temperature sat at just 4C as of 7.30am.
Sydney Records a 10-Degree Drop in 24 Hours
The cold front brought winter-like conditions to the city, with the mercury falling sharply from Saturday’s highs. News24 reported that cold southerly winds lashed the NSW coast on Sunday, bringing showers and large waves. Bureau of Meteorologist David Crock described the shift as a “dramatic change,” noting that while temperatures were nudging 30C in Sydney on Saturday, the front would move in with “really strong, gusty southerly winds.”
Meteorologists Contrast Saturday’s Warmth With Sunday’s Chill
Crock told news.com.au that “a sudden drop in temperature of maybe 10 degrees or so will take place, and there are showers and thunderstorms possible as well.” Sharpe, speaking to News24, offered a different snapshot of the same shift: “Only 19C, windy with a few showers.” Where Crock emphasized the plunge from 30C and the gusty winds, Sharpe focused on the 19C, windy conditions that replaced the weekend’s milder start.
Alpine Regions See Snow, Hail and Near-Freezing Lows
The cold extended beyond Sydney to Melbourne and Canberra. Melbourne’s mercury was set to rise only to 17C, while Canberra’s temperature plunged to just 1C at the start of Sunday, with overnight readings near 0C. According to Weatherzone, snow flurries, showers and hail swept across alpine regions in Victoria, southern New South Wales and high peaks in Tasmania.
Warming Returns by Tuesday; Storms Threaten Queensland
The cold weather is not expected to last, with temperatures warming again by Tuesday. Meanwhile, Queenslanders should brace for thunderstorms, especially in rural areas. Sharpe told News24 that the front’s “continuous journey up into southern Queensland through Sunday brings showers for the New South Wales coast and stormy weather for parts of Queensland and the outback.”
Sunday’s Forecast Across the Capitals
- Sydney: Damp, grey day with lingering showers; high of 19C.
- Melbourne: Cooler, partly cloudy; top of 17C.
- Brisbane: Showers building through the day with potential storms in the evening; high of 29C.
- Adelaide: Frosty start giving way to cloudy skies; high of 24C.
- Canberra: Frosty start, cloudy skies; top of 16C.
- Hobart: Cloudy with a slight chance of a shower; top of 16C.
- Perth: Foggy start clearing to mostly sunny; high of 25C.
- Darwin: Warmer day with storms brewing late; top of 35C.
Your Questions About the Cold Front Answered
When will Sydney warm up again? The cold snap is expected to break by Tuesday, according to news.com.au.
How cold did it get in Canberra? The capital recorded a low of 1C at the start of Sunday, with overnight temperatures plunging to about 0C.
Is snow expected in Sydney? No. Snow flurries were confined to alpine regions in Victoria, southern NSW and Tasmania’s high peaks, Weatherzone reported.
Will Brisbane get storms on Sunday? Showers are expected to build through the day with the potential for storms in the evening, though southeast Queensland faces only the chance of a brief shower.
“But for southeast Queensland, only the chance of a brief shower on Sunday,” Sharpe said.