Millions of Australians are bracing for more icy conditions, with four states in the firing line for scattered rain, wind, thunderstorms and some hail as frosty winter weather descends on the south-east.
A cold front will be rolling across the region late on Friday and early into Saturday and is expected to bring chilly and windy conditions to Tasmania, most of Victoria, coastal South Australia and parts of NSW.
Weather pattern for the evening of July 3. Windy.com.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has also issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds in south-east NSW.
The worst of the windy weather in NSW is expected to ease later tonight.
A succession of cold fronts and powerful weather systems will move away from the capital cities as more stable weather sets in after Saturday, the BoM added.
“Conditions will ease quickly on Saturday as a large and strong high-pressure system moves into the Great Australian Bight and then over Tasmania by Sunday night,” the BoM said.
“This will bring settled weather with cold frosty nights and dry partly cloudy days.”
There are some current flood warnings and flood watches for Victoria, Tasmania and NSW.
Snow season kicks in
The cooler evenings have delivered a much-needed layer of snow in Australia’s alpine country.
Ski resorts in NSW and Victoria woke to a blanket of thick snow after a lacklustre start to the snow season.
Thredbo in NSW reported 28 centimetres of snow overnight into Friday, while nearby Perisher recorded 25 centimetres.
Mt Hotham in Victoria recorded a healthy 22-centimetre coat of snow, Weatherzone reports.
Snow seen at Thredbo Resort on Thursday. Thredbo Resort
This has prompted the BoM to remind those in the Victorian and NSW alps and NSW Central Tablelands to be mindful of black ice.
“Temperatures will fall below zero and light rain and light showers are possible,” it said in a statement.
“These conditions could lead to black ice forming on roads this weekend, creating hazardous driving conditions, especially early in the morning.”