A cold snap has blasted through the south of the country, bringing subzero temperatures to alpine regions.
The cool change “surged northwards from Antarctic waters overnight”, signalling the start of what’s to come just a few days into autumn.
Temperatures dropped to below zero in Tasmania on Monday night, with kunanyi/Mt Wellington recording a low of -1.8C just before midnight.
The nation’s alpine regions also recorded chilly temperatures over the last 48 hours. Mount Hotham in Victoria recorded a low of -1.4C on Monday morning and Cooma airport, east of the Snowy Mountains, fell to just 1C.
Powerful wind gusts of more than 100km/h have been recorded in Tasmania, including gusts of up to 130km/h at Maatsuyker Island, in the state’s south, and kunanyi/Mt Wellington.
The cold blast seems largely isolated to the southern state and has been short-lived, with warmer conditions already being experienced in Hobart.
A maximum of 24C is forecast for the capital on Tuesday.
Dangerous surf lashes NSW coast
Hazardous surf is forecast for most of the NSW coastline on Tuesday, with Byron Bay, Coffs, Macquarie, Hunter, Sydney, Illawarra, Batemans, and Eden coastlines all impacted.
Residents are urged to avoid rock fishing, boating, and swimming during these dangerous surf conditions.
The wild weather will stick around in the north of the state until Wednesday.
Here’s what the weather looks like in every state on Tuesday.
NSW
A warm, dry week ahead is forecast for Sydney, with a high of 26C on Tuesday.
Victoria
Melbourne residents are sweating through a 31C day on Tuesday, but relief is far away with a high of 37C forecast for Saturday.
Tasmania
A warm and mostly cloudy week ahead for Hobart, with a high of 24C on Tuesday.
South Australia
A very warm week ahead for the southern state, with Adelaide due to hit a high of 34C on Tuesday. The capital could reach a high of 37C on Saturday.
QLD
The sunshine state is forecast to experience a warm week, with temperatures reaching the high 20s and low 30s.
NT
A huge dumping of rain is smashing the territory’s capital this week with up to 20mm of rainfall expected each day until Saturday.
Up to 70mm is forecast to fall on Sunday.
WA
Perth residents also have a warm week ahead with temperatures above 30C each day until Saturday.