Aussies left unable to drive as cold icy weather takes over: 'Snow by the sea'
Australians are being warned as a powerful polar air mass prepares to sweep across southern and eastern parts of the country this weekend, unleashing snow, hail, damaging winds, and a sharp plunge in temperatures.
Conditions in recent weeks have quite literally iced drivers out of their cars, with frosty scenes emerging all over social media. Australians have shared photos and videos of frozen windscreens from Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, and even parts of Queensland — a rare occurrence in the Sunshine State.
Recently, a photo showing a "Welcome to the NSW South Coast" sign went viral online after it was shown surrounded by nearby snow. "Snow by the sea", the caption read, prompting thousands of responses.
And while the picture was taken about 50 kilometres inland, it shows just how far the frosty conditions have spread. The wintry blast has sparked a rush of interest in how best to deal with sudden frost, especially for early-morning commuters facing thick ice on their car glass.
As Australians find themselves scraping frozen glass or staring through tiny defrosted peepholes, chemistry expert Dr Nathan Kilah, senior chemistry lecturer at the University of Tasmania, has urged caution, especially against one very common mistake.
"If you pour hot or boiling water on a cold windscreen, the rapid change in temperature can cause something called thermal shock and can actually crack the glass," he told Yahoo News Australia. "Because the glass on a windscreen is laminated safety glass, you can actually end up splintering it."
Instead, Dr Kilah recommends using room-temperature tap water or gently scraping the frost away with a plastic card or dedicated scraper. "You can use a credit card — the plastic is soft enough that it won't scratch the glass," he said.
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Running the car's internal heater before or while de-icing can also help prevent the frost from re-forming, especially on very cold mornings. "The main thing I always mention is to make sure you remove it all — you don't want to be driving down the street like you're driving a tank, looking through a small, narrow gap," he said.
As for prevention, Kilah said the only reliable method is covering the windscreen overnight. "People have used towels, blankets, or bits of cardboard," he said. "But if it's windy, those can easily blow away."
Across the country, residents are being urged to prepare for the incoming frost throughout the weekend and into next week. Here are the areas set to be impacted.
A powerful front will hit southwestern WA on Friday and into Saturday. Expect blustery winds and widespread showers, with 20–50 mm of rain forecast along the coastal strip, including Perth. Rainfall will also spread inland to the Gascoyne and Pilbara regions.
The front will sweep across SA from late weekend through early next week. Adelaide could see a sharp drop in temperatures—from around 22 °C on Sunday to 15 °C by Tuesday—while strong winds and isolated thunderstorms may trigger severe weather warnings.
Southern and southeastern Victoria are in line for widespread rain, gusty winds, and possible hail and snow in elevated areas behind the fronts. Alpine resorts like Mount Buller and Falls Creek have already recorded early-season falls (37–78 cm), and more snow is expected mid-week.
Cold, wet, and windy conditions will spread across NSW and the ACT from Sunday to mid-week. Sydney's highs are expected to fall from the low mid-20s to around 18C, Canberra to about OC overnight and 12C by day, while the Snowy Mountains may see snow.
Frost and sub-zero conditions are likely in elevated inland areas.
Northern Tasmania has already been soaked by heavy rain—Launceston saw 24 mm, its wettest day since January—with flood warnings now in place for rivers like the North Esk. The high country near Ben Lomond also received 14 cm of fresh snow, and more snow with strong winds is expected next week.
The advice comes as new data released this week by the NRMA revealed a sharp rise in wild weather-related damage this year, with more than 32,000 claims lodged between January and May, already surpassing the total for all of 2024.
According to the insurer's latest Wild Weather Tracker, one in four Australians have been affected by severe weather this year, from cyclones and floods to damaging winds and storms.
Autumn alone saw over 15,800 claims, largely due to Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred — the first cyclone in five decades to threaten South East Queensland and northern NSW.
The system impacted around four million people, and more than half of those surveyed in the region said it was their first time experiencing a cyclone.
The data also revealed growing public concern, with 69 per cent of Australians saying this year's extreme events have made them more aware of weather risks. Over a third said they're now more likely to take steps to protect their property, but fewer than half feel confident they're prepared for a major event.
"In the second half of winter, wetter-than-usual conditions are forecast to take hold - especially across the east," Kathryn Turner, NRMA Insurance Meteorologist and Senior Weather Risk Analyst, told Yahoo News. "In spring, we traditionally see temperatures begin to rise and humidity increase, with storm season typically beginning in late September in Queensland and October in New South Wales.
"With thunderstorms an increased risk in spring, Australians should get prepared by making sure their roof is secure, clearing gutters, downpipes and drains and keeping their car undercover where possible."
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