Cold snap for southeast Australia, heatwave conditions continue for eastern Queensland and storms across the north of the country

Issued at 4pm Friday 3 February 2023

South-east Australia weather:

• A strong cold front associated with a deep low-pressure system swept across much of south-east Australia on Thursday bringing a burst of cold air as well as showers, localised hail, thunder, and strong gusty winds.
• A Severe Weather Warning is current for coastal parts of Victoria for damaging surf.
• A Sheep Grazier Warning is current for parts of Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.
• Maximum temperatures across south-east Australia will be as much as 10-16 degrees below average for February.
• There was snow overnight in the Alpine areas of New South Wales and Victoria, and snow showers will likely continue in these areas today.
• There will be clear skies, above average temperatures and warm north-westerly winds in most of eastern New South Wales.
• The cold air, showers and gusty winds, will clear into the Tasman Sea on Saturday as a high-pressure system moves into the Bight.
• Conditions will ease and temperatures will increase back up to more seasonal averages across south-east Australia early next week.

Queensland and north-east New South Wales

• Hot and humid conditions continue across much of eastern Queensland due to a slow-moving surface trough that is likely to produce isolated showers and thunderstorms along the coast.
• Severe thunderstorms are also possible today in north-east New South Wales, bringing potentially damaging winds and large hail.
• Low to severe intensity heatwave conditions are forecast today and tomorrow for much of the Queensland coast, from Cairns to north-east New South Wales.
• Hot and gusty winds will move over north-east New South Wales and south-east Queensland, pushing temperatures into the high 30s to low 40s today and tomorrow, resulting in elevated fire dangers and heatwave conditions.
• High levels of moisture and humidity along coastal parts of south east Queensland and north east New South Wales are also contributing to making temperatures feel even hotter than forecast
• A Fire Weather Warning is current for parts of New South Wales today for extreme fire danger.

Western Australia

• Western Australia will continue to see temperatures soar, particularly in the west of the state.
• Maximum temperatures will reach the mid to high 30s over the coming days, and some inland areas will reach above 40 degrees.
• High to extreme fire danger is forecast in the coming days, including areas around the Margaret River and the Perth Hills.
• A Fire Weather Warning is current for parts of Western Australia for extreme fire dangers today.

Northern Australia

• Isolated showers and thunderstorms with heavy falls will continue in the coming days across northern Australia. Severe thunderstorms are also possible each day with heavy rain and damaging winds being the main risks.
• Showers and thunderstorms will continue across the Top End and northern Queensland this weekend, spreading back southwards through much of Queensland early next week.
• The Monsoon trough is also forecast to strengthen to the north of Australia this weekend and early into next week. The Bureau is watching this closely as this could see an increase in rain and storms across the tropical north.

Know your weather, know your risk. Residents and communities should stay up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings via our website and BOM Weather app and follow the advice of emergency services.