Weather in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney: Damaging wind warning issued, schools closed
Millions of Australians have been urged to work from home and avoid unnecessary travel in preparation for another week of devastating winds battering large parts of the country.
A series of devastating cold fronts have battered the country’s southeast, including Tasmania, leaving thousands of homes without power and some residents preparing to evacuate as rising waters hit.
The severe weather that hit Victoria on Sunday evening has prompted authorities to urge anyone who does not need to travel today to stay at home.
Power outages are affecting more than 50,000 homes in Victoria, from Warrnambool in the south-west to Melbourne.
Several schools have also been closed and parents are urged to check their school’s social media to see if they should send their children to school.
A 63-year-old woman in New South Wales has died after the hut she was staying in was crushed by a tree early Monday morning.
Police were called just before 4am to the cabin on Merool Road, near Albury in the state’s south, where they found the woman’s body.
She has yet to be formally identified. A report will be prepared for the coroner.
A 63-year-old man was taken to hospital in Echuca for treatment.
The woman’s death comes as the Bureau of Meteorology warns that the massive cold front is now moving east towards New South Wales.
“In the early hours of (Monday) the winds will really start to pick up over the east coast of New South Wales,” senior meteorologist Sarah Scully said on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Illawarra is under extreme fire danger, while Greater Sydney is under a high fire danger warning.
A citywide ban on burning is in effect. Residents of areas with extreme fire risk must take measures to protect their property from fire.
The NSW Rural Fire Service has urged residents in the Shoalhaven and Illawarra districts to activate their bushfire survival plans.
Several small, contained grassfires raged along Sydney’s south coast on Monday as the state braced for wind gusts of more than 100km/h.
An extreme weather warning has been issued due to damaging wind gusts from the Victorian border to Newcastle north and inland to the Snowy Mountains and ACT.
Wind gusts of up to 120 km/h are possible until Monday afternoon.
“Winds of this magnitude can blow down trees and branches, causing property damage. They can also uproot power lines, potentially causing power outages. They can also blow loose objects around, causing more damage,” Scully said.
Tasmania was hit by severe weather over the weekend, causing significant damage to trees, property, power lines and infrastructure.
An emergency flood warning has been issued for residents near the Derwent River, Meadowbank to Macquarie Plains and Styx River, Bushy Park to Macquarie Plains and surrounds.
The River Derwent below Meadowbank Dam is expected to exceed its highest water level of 7.3 metres overnight, the bureau said late on Sunday.
People in the Derwent towns in Tasmania’s south-east – including Meadowbank, Glenora, Bushy Park, Gretna and Macquarie Plains – were urged to make flood emergency plans and prepare their properties.
Provider TasNetworks reported more than 150 power outages on Sunday evening, leaving about 10,000 customers without power.
Tasmania SES crews prepare for flooding. Photo: Tasmania SES
A cold front moves across parts of South Australia and Tasmania on Sunday evening, while Victoria is hit by devastating wind gusts of up to 130km/h (pictured)
Sydney is expected to see a high of 25 degrees Celsius on Monday, while Melbourne will hit just under 14 degrees Celsius on Monday before warming up to 20 degrees Celsius by midweek.
Brisbane is expected to see a maximum temperature of 33 degrees on Monday, before dropping back to the mid-20s. Perth is also expected to see its hottest day on Monday, with a maximum temperature of 25 degrees.
Adelaide is expected to hit 25 degrees on Wednesday and Thursday, while Hobart will see a few cool days before warming to 20 degrees later in the week.
Tasmania’s capital will see persistent, isolated showers for most of the week.
Canberra is expected to see a high of 24 degrees Celsius on Friday, while Darwin’s Top End is expected to see a scorching 36 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.
The recent spate of wild weather has blown down trees and power lines and thrown several garden items from homes in Victoria (pictured)
Roofs and other structures have been torn apart (pictured) as devastating winds have battered parts of Australia in recent weeks
Sydney
Monday: Sunny. Very windy. Min 16C Max 25C
Tuesday: Sunny. Min 10C Max 18C
Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Min 10C Max 18C
Melbourne
Monday: Showers decreasing: Windy. Min 10C Max 14C
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Min 8C Max 17C
Wednesday: Becoming windy. Partly cloudy. Min 9C Max 20C
Brisbane
Monday: Sunny. Windy. Min 19C Max 33C
Tuesday: Sunny. Min 16C Max 25C
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Min 13C Max 23C
Perth
Monday: Sunny. Min 9C Max 25C
Tuesday: Shower or two. Min 12C Max 21C
Wednesday: Showers. Min 13C Max 20C
Adelaide
Monday: Possible early shower. Min 11C Max 17C
Tuesday: Sunny. Min 7C Max 20C
Wednesday: Possible development of a shower. Min 12C Max 25C
Hobart
Monday: Showers decreasing. Windy. Min 6C Max 12C
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Min 7C Max 15C
Wednesday: Shower or two. Min 7C Max 19C
Sydney is expected to be mostly sunny despite a windy start to the week on Monday, with highs of 29C forecast on Friday
Canberra
Monday: Windy. Partly cloudy. Min 9C Max 14C
Tuesday: Sunny. Min 1C Max 16C
Wednesday: Early frost. Mostly sunny. Min 0C Max 19C
Darwin
Monday: Sunny. Min 23C Max 35C
Tuesday: Sunny. Min 23C Max 35C
Wednesday: Sunny. Min 23C Max 36C
Hobart will see persistent, isolated showers for most of the week, while scattered rainfall is also expected in Melbourne and Adelaide (pictured people with umbrellas on a rainy day)
