Millions of Australians warned to brace for big chill ‘wintry weekend’ as cold snap sends temperatures plummeting in NSW, Melbourne and Tasmania

The unseasonably warm weather affecting Australia for the last few weeks is set to come to a sudden end with a dramatic cold snap approaching.

The cool change will sweep across central and south-east Australia on Friday as the the mercury drops for millions. 

Chilly temperatures are expected to hit much of Australia’s south, with Melbourne’s maximum on Saturday predicted to be six degrees below the September average.

By Sunday, the NSW south coast could be up to eight degrees lower than average.

A cold front travelling east towards Tasmania is expected to bring rain to the south, with the icy blast smashing south-east Australia expected to last into next week. 

‘It’s going to be almost winter-like this weekend for Tasmania and Victoria,’ Sky News meteorologist Rob Sharpe said.

‘That will then push up the NSW coastline through Saturday afternoon and evening.’

But there’s better news for northern Australia where it is expected to stay warm with Brisbane getting hotter over the weekend.

A cold snap will hit Australia in the coming days with the south-east (circled) the worst affected

Cold temperatures are expected to affect much of Australia's south this weekend, starting Friday

Cold temperatures are expected to affect much of Australia’s south this weekend, starting Friday 

Sydney

Saturday: The chance of fog in the outer west in the early morning. Sunny day. Medium chance of a shower near the coastal fringe, slight chance elsewhere. Showers most likely in the late afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming southerly 15 to 25 km/h in the early afternoon then increasing to 25 to 35 km/h in the late evening. Min 9. Max 23.

Sunday: Cloudy. High chance of showers along the coastal fringe, medium chance elsewhere. Winds southerly 30 to 45 km/h tending south to southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h during the evening. Min 10. Max 17.

Monday: Slight chance of a shower in the morning. Sunny day. Winds southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h turning southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening. Min 10. Max 19.

Tuesday: Sunny. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day. Min 9. Max 21.

Melbourne

Saturday: Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm in the eastern suburbs. Winds westerly 15 to 20 km/h turning south to southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h early in the morning. Min 9. Max 12.

Sunday: Partly cloudy. Patches of morning frost about the nearby hills. Slight chance of a shower. Winds southerly 15 to 25 km/h turning southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the evening. Min 6. Max 14.

Monday: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h tending south to southwesterly during the day then becoming light during the evening. Min 8. Max 15.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning. Min 6. Max 19.

Brisbane

Saturday: Partly cloudy. Winds southerly 15 to 20 km/h tending southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the morning then becoming light in the evening. Min 13. Max 22.

Sunday: Mostly sunny. The chance of morning fog in the west. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h during the day then tending southerly 15 to 25 km/h during the evening. Min 12. Max 25.

Monday: Partly cloudy. Winds south to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light during the evening. Min 12. Max 22.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day. Min 11. Max 23.

The sudden cold snap will be mostly felt by central and south-east Australia on Friday

The sudden cold snap will be mostly felt by central and south-east Australia on Friday

Melbourne's maximum temperature on Saturday predicted to be six degrees below the September average

Melbourne’s maximum temperature on Saturday predicted to be six degrees below the September average

Perth

Saturday: Sunny. Winds easterly 20 to 30 km/h increasing to 25 to 35 km/h in the late evening. Min 13. Max 27.

Sunday: Sunny. Winds easterly 25 to 35 km/h. Min 13. Max 25.

Monday: Sunny. Winds easterly 15 to 25 km/h tending northeasterly during the day then becoming light during the afternoon. Min 12. Max 25.

Tuesday: Sunny. Winds east to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h shifting westerly during the day. Min 12. Max 25.

Adelaide

Saturday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds south to southeasterly and light becoming southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h in the morning then increasing to 30 to 40 km/h in the late evening. Min 8. Max 17.

Sunday: Sunny. Winds southeasterly 25 to 40 km/h. Min 6. Max 17.

Monday: Sunny. Winds east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h tending south to southeasterly during the day then becoming light during the afternoon. Min 6. max 18.

Tuesday: Sunny. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning. Min 7. Max 20.

Hobart

Saturday: Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Possible small hail. Winds westerly 15 to 20 km/h turning southerly 25 to 40 km/h in the morning then tending southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h in the late evening. Min 5. Max 11.

Sunday: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the evening. Winds southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending westerly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning then increasing to 25 to 35 km/h during the day. Min 4. Max 13.

Monday: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds westerly 25 to 35 km/h tending northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the evening. Min 8. Max 14.

Tuesday: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely later in the day. Winds northwesterly 25 to 40 km/h. Min 7. Max 15.

Canberra

Saturday: Partly cloudy. Patches of frost and the chance of fog in the morning. High chance of showers in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming west to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h in the middle of the day then shifting southerly 15 to 25 km/h in the evening. Min 0. Max 18.

Sunday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the morning. Winds southerly 20 to 30 km/h becoming light during the evening. Min 2. Max 14.

Monday: Sunny. Areas of morning frost. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening. Min -4. Max 19.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Areas of morning frost. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day. Min 0. Max 19.

Southern coastal areas of New South Wales could be up to eight degrees lower than average on Sunday

Southern coastal areas of New South Wales could be up to eight degrees lower than average on Sunday

The chilly temperatures driven by a cold front are expected to last well into next week

The chilly temperatures driven by a cold front are expected to last well into next week

Darwin

Saturday: Sunny. Light winds becoming east to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the morning then becoming light in the evening. Min 23. Max 35.

Sunday: Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming east to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day then tending northwest to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon. Min 24. Max 34.

Monday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Light winds becoming north to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening. Min 24. Max 33.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely during the morning. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day. Min 23. Max 31.

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