Winter bites Australia’s south-east with fog, frost and chilly mornings ahead after ski season snow boost

Winter will arrive in earnest on Monday, as foggy and frosty conditions back up a bumper start to Australia’s official ski season.

Perisher, Thredbo, Mt Buller, Falls Creek, and Mt Hotham opened the ski season with a burst of snow over the weekend, aided by snowmachines.

Freezing temperatures over the alps will continue into Monday morning. However, a high-pressure system will keep precipitation, a key ingredient for snowy mornings, at bay.

Millions of Australians will wake to foggy and frosty conditions as the second week of winter takes hold.

Patchy fog is expected across Australia’s east up to Brisbane and widespread fog will blanket much of Victoria into Monday morning.

Frost warnings are also in place for parts of eastern Victoria, including the Gippsland region.

Southern patches of New South Wales along the west of the Great Dividing Range should also expect a frosty start.

Sky News Weather Presenter Wendy John explained much of Australia’s interior was set for clear skies over the course of the day, with one notable exception.

“We’re looking at, more broadly, some lovely conditions across the country,” she said.

“Maybe not so lovely for Perth, that’s the exception, 21, thunderstorms, could be a little bit gusty as well.”

Two cold fronts are stalking toward the Western Australia’s southwestern tip from further out at sea, meaning further rain is likely over the coming days.

While conditions on the east coast are expected to be mostly fine, John noted a band of light rain clouds was forecast to linger between Brisbane and Sydney.

As a result, some coastal communities could cop a sprinkling of between 1mm to 5mm on Monday.

National forecast for MondaySydney

Sydney has a forecast minimum of 10C and a maximum of 20C.

Light showers are possible in the late afternoon and evening.

Melbourne

Melbourne can expect cloudy conditions with a 9C minimum and 17C maximum temperature.

Victoria’s capital could see a windy day as northerlies of up to 20km/h whistle through the city around lunchtime.

Brisbane

Brisbane locals can expect temperatures between 14C and 23C on Monday.

Light rain is expected in the morning, before conditions clear in the afternoon and evening.

Canberra

Canberra will soak up sunshine under clear skies, although the nation’s capital is not expected to see temperatures above 10C.

Residents will wake to a frosty morning, with the chance of some fog forecast as well.

Adelaide

Adelaide is in for a sunny day and a high of 19C.

Clear skies are expected in South Australia’s capital alongside some gusty winds throughout the early afternoon.

Hobart

Hobart will be sunny with a top of 17C on Monday.

Strong winds are set to buffet parts of the coast, although locals onshore should escape the worst of the blustery conditions.

Perth

Perth residents are due to cop thunderstorms and gusty conditions at the start of a wet week.

A high of 21C, and a low of 12C, is forecast in the WA capital.

Darwin

Darwin is in for a sunny day with a high of 31C.

Windy conditions in the morning and afternoon should help take the edge off a warm winter’s day.