Millions of Aussies have shivered through their coldest morning in months with freezing temperatures to continue and gale-force winds to hit the country.
A low-pressure system was forming just off the coast of New South Wales and drawing in arctic south-westerly winds on Wednesday.
Much of the state shivered through its coldest morning since October with Sydneysiders waking up to 11.9C and Newcastle recording 13.6C.
The freezing conditions crept into Queensland where Toowoomba recorded 8C – seven degrees colder than any other morning so far this year.
Residents along NSW’s coast have been warned of damaging winds and dangerous surf as a low pressure system draws in arctic southerly winds (stock image)
‘So that is a shock to the system there over the southern-inland parts of Queensland,’ Sky News Australia Meteorologist Rob Sharpe said.
‘Much colder weather now in play.’
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) have issued warnings from Sydney to the state’s North Coast for dangerous surf and damaging winds.
Weatherzone predicts the winds can reach up to 100km/h around Sydney and the Hunter Region coast line.
It’s also expected to have Sydneysiders shivering through 15C on Wednesday and Thursday, about seven degrees lower than the max temperature.
Winds reached 100km/h in Wattamolla, Sydney’s South, at 2:30am, while Molineux Point and Sydney Harbour were hit by winds about 80km/h early on Wednesday.
BOM’s warning urged those from Sydney to Coffs harbour to take preventative actions to limit injuries and property damage.
These include moving vehicles under cover and away from trees, securing loose items around the home.
It’s also suggest to stay ‘at least eight metres away’ from fallen power lines or any energised objects such as electric fences.
The winds are also causing dangerous surf conditions for south-facing beaches from Sydney to Seal Rocks, near Forster.
Cronulla, in Sydney’s South, saw swells reach 4.9m just before 5am on Wednesday which is predicted to fall into the weekend but remain ‘rough’ until Friday.
A number of other popular beaches around Sydney, such as Coogee and Maroubra will not be patrolled on Wednesday.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued warning of dangers winds reaching as high as 100km/h in some areas between Sydney and Coffs Harbour (pictured)
A number of beaches in Sydney aren’t being patrolled on Wednesday as south-facing coastlines are battered by rough swells
A Weatherzone spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that conditions are expected to clear up over the weekend as a rigid high pressure system rolls rolls into the area.
Temperatures are predicted to peak on Sunday and into the early week before another bout of clouds and showers hit NSW’s coast.
The area is still recovering from last week’s deluge that saw a month of rainfall in Sydney, Port Macquarie and Taree on Friday.
The massive rainfall delayed trains and led to evacuation alerts for thousands of residents along to Hawkesbury and Nepean rivers.
Wild weather on the east coast also led to Major flooding warnings for residents along the Balonne, Condamine, Maranoa, Warrego and Barcoo Rivers in Queensland on Wednesday.
A strong wing warning was also issued on Wednesday for the Central Coast, Central Gippsland Coast and East Gippsland Coast in Victoria.
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