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Australia braces for arctic storm with a weekend of snow, icy winds and rain as farmers are warned sheep could freeze – so what’s the weather like in your area?
- The icy weather continues along the east coast of Australia this weekend
- Bureau of Meteorology has warned farmers in South East Queensland
- Temperatures will drop so low that sheep risk freezing to death
- Snow is forecast to fall in alpine areas in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania
The icy cold weather plaguing Australia’s east coast is set to continue into the weekend, making temperatures so frigid that farmers have been warned their sheep could freeze to death.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology said a cloud band stretching across southern South Queensland and into New South Wales will bring patchy rain and moderate winds across the region.
While alpine areas in Tasmania, Victoria and the Snowy Mountains in NSW are likely to see significant snowfall.
“Sheep grazers have been warned that cool temperatures and moderate winds are expected for Saturday, following rainfall today and early Saturday morning,” the agency said.
‘Areas likely to be affected include parts of the Darling Downs forecast district and Granite Belt (in southeastern Queensland). There is a risk of losses to lambs and sheep exposed to these conditions.”
Areas like Warwick and Kingaroy will drop to 5C while Canungra will reach 7C.
The frigid weather system crushing Australia’s east coast will continue this weekend, leaving temperatures so frigid that farmers have been warned their sheep could freeze to death
Gray skies are forecast to stretch over Brisbane and the Gold Coast as Sydney and Melbourne head into their winter weekend.
Rain is forecast for Saturday and Sunday in Melbourne and parts of Victoria with temperatures below 10C.
Strong wind warnings are in place for Port Phillip, West Coast, Central Coast and Central Gippsland Coast this weekend, while storm warnings are in place for the state’s west coast for Saturday.
Sydneysiders will get sunnier weather, but temperatures will be equally cold, dropping to 9C on Saturday and 11C on Sunday.
“Over the weekend and early next week, a series of dips and cold fronts will traverse southeastern Australia, returning much of the state to cold and tumultuous conditions,” the Bureau said Friday.
“Tonight there is a chance of rain in parts of NSW, while snow is possible in the Snowy Mountains.”
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology said a cloud band stretching across southern South Queensland and into New South Wales will bring patchy rain and moderate winds across the region. In the photo: Pedestrians brave the cold in Sydney
Residents of Hazelgrove near Oberon in NSW woke up to snow on Wednesday (pictured)
Minor flood warnings are in place for the lower Lachlan River at Booligal, the Macquarie River at Warren Town, the Bogan River at Mulgawarrina and Gongolgon.
The DarlingRiver at Bourke, Louth, Tilpa, Wilcannia, Menindee, Pooncarie and Burtundy also faces a minor flood warning.
Meanwhile, the skies in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and South Australia should start to clear.
“Unusual rain, storms and cold conditions in the Pilbara and Kimberley in WA have now eased, but below average temperatures will continue next week, including for parts of NT and SA,” the Bureau said.
However, Tasmania’s alpine regions are likely to be hit by heavy snowfall as cold conditions persist in Hobart.
Cars were snowed in when Perisher picked up 12 inches of fresh snow overnight, marking the start of winter
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