Prosper in a dynamic world
Search

Bitter wintry chill returning this weekend

A two-pronged burst of cold weather is heading the way of southeastern Australia, bringing the sort of chill that was largely missing during Australia’s warmest August on record.

A relatively weak cold front passing through Tasmania this Wednesday will flick just enough cold air northwards to drop max temps by four degrees or more in cities in the SE corner of the mainland:

  • Melbourne will drop from a max of 19°C on Wednesday to 15°C on Thursday.
  • Canberra will drop from a max of 21°C on Wednesday to 17°C on Thursday.
  • Sydney will drop from a max of 25°C on Wednesday to 19°C on Thursday.

But that’s just phase one of the return to wintry temperatures. On Sunday, a second surge of cold air will push onto the mainland as winds circulate around the high pressure centred over the Great Australian Bight.

Sunday maximum temps in the three cities just mentioned are expected to be:

  • Melbourne: 14°C
  • Canberra: 15°C
  • Sydney: 17°C

All three cities will no doubt feel a lot colder than the still-air temperatures due to blustery winds out of the south, with showers likely in both Sydney and Melbourne. Indeed the apparent temp (or “feels like temp”) is expected to be well below 10 degrees at midday in Sydney.

Meanwhile an exceptionally chilly morning can be expected at the top of Thredbo on Sunday, with a minimum of –8°C.

When the mercury dips that low overnight, it’s usually a sign of a dry airmass, and indeed any snow that falls on Saturday into Sunday morning will be short-lived, and definitely not enough to breathe life into the ailing ski season.

As the airmass continues to dry out, a cold start to Monday can be expected right across the southeast, with a minimum of 0°C in Canberra and a single-digit low in Sydney.

That’ll feel chilly for Sydneysiders, who probably threw the heavy doonas in the cupboard after a balmy minimum of 17.4°C on the last night of winter.

Weatherzone Business has grown to become the outright leader within the Australian energy market, serving wind, solar, hydro, trading, utilities and network companies.

You can’t control the weather, but you can gain precision insights to optimise your response. What lights us up is providing your energy business with tailored weather information to reduce your risk and keep you moving ahead of the curve. 

Our services cover all aspects – from wind and solar generation to demand forecasts, wholesale markets to retail so, no matter where your company sits, we have solutions for you. We have worked closely with market participants to create products that meet the evolving needs of the sector, aiming to increase safety and profitability for our customers. 

Benefit from the timely delivery of accurate weather information, allowing informed and effective decision-making. For more information, please visit our website or email us at apac.sales@dtn.com.

Latest news

Satisfy your weather obsession with these news headlines from around the nation, and the world.

How does DTN help businesses monitor bushfire induced pyrocumulonimbus thunderstorms that ignite more fires?

Intense heat from bushfires during elevated fire danger days can trigger fire-induced pyrocumulonimbus thunderstorms that ignite additional fires. In early January 2026, an extreme heatwave sweeping over southeastern Australia brought catastrophic fire danger to Victoria. Intensely hot bush and grass fires spread erratically and quickly in hot, dry and gusty winds, with pyrocumulonimbus generating lightning, […]

Active seas to the north and east of Australia disrupting port and maritime operations

Seas to the north and east of Australia are experiencing periods of increased activity this week, leading to disruptions to port, maritime and offshore operations. Intense and hazardous Tasman Sea Ocean conditions across NSW’s South Coast rapidly deteriorated last Friday as a deep feed of easterly winds whipped up large and dangerous seas. The Batemans […]

Transport, emergency and energy industries flooded across Greater Sydney with weekend deluges

Transport, emergency, energy and port industries in eastern NSW and Sydney were impacted by significant flash flooding with intense and heavy rainfall this weekend. Rainfall rates between 80 and 140mm in one to three hours were registered across parts of Sydney’s Northern Beaches and Central Coast on Saturday afternoon and evening. In some areas, these […]

DTN Dangerous Thunderstorm Alerts in action with severe thunderstorms disrupting Perth industries

Severe thunderstorms impacted southwest WA and the Perth region on Sunday, December 14, 2025, triggering Dangerous Thunderstorm Alerts (DTA) by DTN for industries and businesses in the region. DTN operates Dangerous Thunderstorm Alerts (DTA) which alert businesses and industries to thunderstorms based on intensity and movement. These alerts provide advanced notice of thunderstorms moving into […]