Latest news with #BureauOfMeteorology
ABC News
8 hours ago
- Climate
- ABC News
Wind and light showers forecast for Queensland this weekend
Queenslanders can expect winds and light showers this weekend, with strong wind warnings likely to keep boaties off the water north of K'gari. Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) community information officer Patch Clap said wind aside, it should be a "reasonably settled weekend" across the Sunshine State. He said there would be light showers in the eastern parts of the state and to the far north later on Friday and continuing over the weekend. "The usual sort of spots [will] all pick up [rain] … around the Daintree Coast and the Cassowary Coast, possible around the Central Coast around Mackay and around the Sunshine Coast as well and other parts of south-east Queensland," Mr Clap said. "Most parts of the Queensland coast might see some sort of light shower across the next few days." Mr Clap said there would be a gradual increase in maximum and minimum temperatures across most of the state. "We're talking about a couple of degrees here or there," he said. The BOM has issued a strong wind warning for Saturday for Torres Strait, Peninsula coast, Cooktown coast, Cairns coast, Townsville coast, Mackay coast and Capricornia coast. Parts of the North Gulf of Carpentaria could also see up to 25 knots offshore. "The same winds that are driving those showers onto much of the Queensland coast at times are also driving fairly widespread strong wind warnings," Mr Clap said. He said the south easterly winds were fresh along the whole Queensland coast for Saturday and Sunday. "So not the greatest conditions for those looking to get out on the waters," he said. Morning frost is expected to crunch the grass in Roma and Injune in the Maranoa and Warrego region tomorrow. Saturday is forecast to drop to 2 degrees Celsius in Roma and 2C in Injune. There will also be morning fog inland in south-eastern Queensland.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Millions brace for brutal cold snap
Millions are bracing for a deep freeze to set over the southern half of Australia, with an icy and wintry chill locking firmly in place as parts of NSW mark the coldest day of the year. Residents across the southwestern region of Australia will be hit with thunderstorms and damaging winds as a cold front settles in. Western Australia will be the first to feel the freeze as blistering winds and thunderstorms roll in, smashing the state's western and southwestern regions. Perth will bear the brunt of the rain on Friday afternoon, copping between 20mm to 50mm over the next two days before the cold front slowly moves east towards South Australia, Victoria and NSW. Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Angus Hines told NewsWire it was normal for WA to get hit with the coldest conditions before the rest of the country. 'Through the winter months, WA does often cop a lot of cold fronts,' he said. 'Given that most of our weather in the southern half of the country moves from west to east, it's often WA that gets the first taste of these colder outbreaks.' Severe thunderstorms are likely for Perth on Saturday, with scattered showers and strong winds smashing much of the southern regions of WA and moving to the southern coast on Sunday. It won't be long before those wintry conditions move over to Victoria and NSW. 'It's going to take a couple of days, but early next week that will be arriving in the southeast of the country, bringing some rain, some wind, and eventually some cold temperatures down that way as well,' Mr Hines said. However, while the mornings will be particularly tough for much of the southeast region, temperatures will warm up during the day. 'Interestingly, when we look at the maximum temperatures, kind of the afternoon temperatures when the sun is out, we do see those getting a little bit warmer compared to what they've been over the last few days,' he told NewsWire. 'That's really the main trend for the next couple of days.' Conditions will be extra chilly in the eastern region of the country over the weekend as the cold front system moves in, bringing rain thunderstorms and damaging wind gusts in the middle of next week. On Friday, parts of south and central NSW recorded the coldest temperature of the year so far, with a high pressure ridge over the state settling weather conditions. Canberra recorded an icy -7C on Friday morning, while Lithgow in NSW's Central Tablelands a a chilly -6C. 'Some really icy temperatures out through parts of the country,' Mr Hines told NewsWire. The bureau expects subzero conditions to smash parts of NSW, Victoria and southern inland Queensland over the weekend, particularly Saturday. Rain will follow for Victoria and NSW early next week, hitting the hardest on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, it will be a 'dry weekend'' for residents in northern Queensland, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and most of SA. Over the weekend, Brisbane residents can expect slight chance of showers over the weekend, with light winds and a top of 22C on Saturday and 23C on Sunday. It will be relatively cool for Sydney residents over the weekend, with mostly sunny conditions and patches of frost in the outer west, reaching a maximum temperature of 18C on Saturday and 19C on Sunday. Conditions will be icy in Canberra, with morning frost pulling the minimum temperature to -4C and a top of 14C on Saturday and Sunday. Melbourne will be mostly sunny over the weekend, with frost patches and fog expected in the morning, with a maximum temperature of 15C on Saturday and 16C on Sunday. Temperatures will be slightly warmer in Hobart, with mostly sunny skies and a top of 17C on Saturday and 16C on Sunday. Adelaide residents can expect a sunny weekend with a top of 19C on Saturday, followed by a high chance of showers and a top of 21C on Sunday. Conditions will be wet and soggy for Perth over the weekend, with a high chance of showers for much of the day, reaching a maximum of 17C on Saturday and 19C on Sunday. It will be warm and sunny over the weekend for Darwin, with sunny skies and a top of 31C on Saturday and 30C on Sunday.
ABC News
14 hours ago
- Climate
- ABC News
Winter solstice brings widespread frost as Australia's coldest towns revealed
Temperatures have been plummeting in large parts of the country as Australia closes in on the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice. On Friday morning, widespread frosty conditions spread across large parts of New South Wales and Victoria, and some parts of Queensland. Cold air and clear skies combined saw broad areas drop to sub-zero degrees, with the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) recording some of the coldest temperatures in two years in several locations. "This is definitely the lowest temperatures that we've seen this year [for some]," BOM senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said. "But that makes sense as we've moved into the beginning of winter, and typically that sort of June, July period is the coldest for most parts of Australia." But during the depths of winter, which town actually holds bragging rights as the coldest in the country? We've asked the BOM's climate team to open up the history books and take a look at the stats. Turns out the answer is similar to what's unfolded this week. First, let's start with the definition of "coldest", because there are quite a few ways to answer it. We've looked at two different metrics. The BOM looked at its available records for July, which is the coldest month of the year. We've also defined a "town" as having more than 1,000 people, in line with the Australian Bureau of Statistics definition of an "urban centre". So, sorry to Liawanee, Tasmania — population two — which is the true coldest inhabited place in Australia, but you'll have to sit this one out. We're also going to exclude the Alps, because everyone knows it's cold there. Based on overnight temperatures in the depths of winter, Australia's coldest town is Cooma, in southern New South Wales. During July, the town — known as the "capital of the Snowy Mountains" — averages minus 2.6 degrees Celsius at night, and -2C at the airport, according to figures from the BOM. "Anything elevated is going to be cooler because the temperature does decrease with height. It's always cooler up on the mountains than it is down in the lower-lying areas," Ms Bradbury said. "So Cooma, because it's got that little bit of elevation at 800 metres, it does generally see a cooler climate than some of those lower-lying areas." This week it has certainly been living up to that reputation, falling to -7C this Thursday and -8.5C on Friday. An honourable mention also goes to Walcha, in the Northern Tablelands region of New South Wales, which wasn't far behind with a July average minimum of -2.2C. So that's the overnight temperature. But what about during the day? With that lens on, the title of coldest town stays in New South Wales — this time, going to Oberon in the Central Tablelands. During July, its temperature doesn't even make it into the double digits, peaking at between 8.1 and 8.8C on average, according to BOM figures. Add a bit of wind chill into the equation, and it's likely to feel even colder. "When it's windier, it feels colder. When it's more humid or the dew point temperature is higher, it tends to feel warmer," Ms Bradbury said. It just so happens that the coldest place, by average temperature, is a draw between both Oberon and Cooma. So if you're looking for a tie-breaker, you're out of luck. Of course, there are a lot of places in Australia that either don't have observations or haven't had weather station data for as long as others. It means there may be colder places out there, but there is just no good data to back it up. For the record, the coldest temperature ever recorded in Australia was at Charlotte Pass. On June 29, 1994, it dropped down to -23C at the Kosciuszko Chalet. The coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth was set at Vostok Station, in Antarctica, which dropped down to -89.4C on July 21, 1983. Ms Bradbury said both Oberon and Cooma were good examples of the type of features that made a town cold. In general, our coldest winter places are elevated and far enough south that they feel the effects of the winter fronts coming through. They also tend to be inland. "At this time of year, once the sun goes down, especially if we have a clear night, the temperature drops very quickly over land," she said. "But the water will hold its heat a little bit more, and that, in turn, will make those coastal locations just a touch milder than inland." During the summer months, on the other hand, it's the coastal areas that are usually the coolest. "It's sort of the inverse of the situation," she said. "You're more likely to get the sea breezes, and, you know, the heat is sort of retained a little bit more over the land." This Saturday marks the Southern Hemisphere's winter solstice — the shortest day of the year. It signals the point at which the hemisphere is tilted furthest away from the Sun, meaning fewer daylight hours. But the coldest time of the year is still to come. It takes time for the oceans and land to cool down and heat up, known as the "seasonal lag". This means the coldest temperatures are typically a few weeks after the shortest day of the year. Having said that, the weather can always throw a spanner in the works, according to Ms Bradbury. In terms of the current run of cold weather, Ms Bradbury said the frigid mornings would continue throughout the weekend until a cold front arrived, stirring up strong winds and the possibility of severe weather warnings. The front is expected to reach Western Australia today, and then take the weekend to move across the Bight. "So as we go into early next week, we've actually got a couple of fronts whipping through, which are going to keep conditions fairly windy," she said. "We may see severe weather warnings for damaging winds issued, both ahead of and behind the front. The winds are looking very strong." Notes about the data: The statistics for July are based on 1961-1990 averages for those sites that have sufficient data in the 1961-1990 period, and all available years of data otherwise. Note that some sites are no longer operational.
ABC News
17 hours ago
- Climate
- ABC News
Fog turns Perth into mystical winter wonderland, causing delays at Perth Airport
Perth residents awoke to a rare, mystical treat on Thursday morning, with heavy fog blanketing much of WA's west coast, causing disruption for motorists and at Perth Airport. The widespread fog shrouded areas from the state's far south west, extending up the west coast to Carnarvon and inland through parts of the Goldfields district. The murky and misty air gave Perth's CBD an eerie vibe with buildings almost invisible behind a thick cloak of fog. The conditions followed a cold front that passed through the south west region on Wednesday, leaving behind cooler overnight temperatures and cloud-free skies. Perth Airport confirmed 18 flights in and out were delayed on Thursday because of limited visibility. In a statement, it said a mix of regional interstate flights were disrupted and two had to be diverted back to their departure points. To form the perfect recipe for fog, you need four main components: moisture, cold air, light winds and clear skies overnight. Those elements typically happen when a cold front moves through, which is what we saw yesterday. The Bureau of Meteorology's Jessica Lingard said those elements were typically found behind cold fronts. "As the air cools, any of that moisture in the air, that water vapour condenses into water droplets and we end up with clouds forming on the ground," she said. "Any wind or cloud overnight is going to keep temperatures warmer and prevent that cooling that we need." It was the second morning this week that Perth has woken to misty conditions, after the city was blanketed on Monday. However, Ms Lingard said Thursday morning's fog was more extensive than normal. "We do see places like Port Hedland and through the Pilbara district that will have fog events, but this one was quite extensive because it was all one system that formed it rather than just localised patches of fog," she said. For fog to clear in the morning, the sun needs to warm the earth, which will in turn warm the air above it and dry the moisture out, lifting and clearing the cloud away from the ground. "Sometimes we have, like we did on Monday, high cloud moving in and that blocks out a bit of the sun so we see the fog lingers around for a little bit longer in the morning," Ms Lingard said. With cloudy conditions having settled in overnight ahead of another cold front, Friday morning was tipped to be fog free across much of the state. That front is set to bring a burst of wintry weather to western and south-western parts of WA over the course of Friday and into the weekend. "We're not likely to see any fog [on Friday] because we're going to have that cloud cover and it's also going to be too windy for fog to form nicely," Ms Lingard said. "But as the cloud clears, there may be opportunities for some fog to form but probably not as widespread." The Bureau of Meteorology has warned the cold front could bring severe thunderstorms and damaging winds for WA's south west and coastal regions on Friday. Some places could see rainfall totals exceed 40 millimetres, while areas further inland could be looking at 5 to 10mm. Behind the system, winds will shift dramatically to south-westerly and stay strong and blustery, making temperatures feel very chilly this weekend.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Urgent warning after 'hazardous' detail spotted at edge of Aussie dam: 'Be aware'
A striking image has given Australian boaters a sobering reminder of how quickly conditions on the water can change, especially as parts of the country face a dry spell. The photo, posted online by NSW Maritime last week, shows a cardinal mark — a floating navigation aid that shows which side of it is safe to travel on — stranded on dry land, metres away from the current waterline at Blowering Dam, near Tumut in southern NSW. "This pic... shows how low the water levels are at the moment, leaving our cardinal mark on dry land. If you're heading out, be aware of the changed conditions, keep a proper lookout for exposed rocks and other hazards at all times," NSW Maritime said online. While inland dams often fluctuate, the speed and scale of this drop is eye-opening. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the region around Blowering Dam has received below-average rainfall for this time of year, contributing to the receding shoreline and exposing previously submerged hazards. Around the country's west, south, and southeast, it's a similar story with below average rainfall in some parts breaking records. When water levels fall quickly, the risks for boaters increase. Submerged hazards like rocks, sandbanks and tree stumps can become exposed or lurk just beneath the surface, catching even experienced skippers off guard. Navigation markers may no longer be positioned in safe or meaningful locations, creating confusion or a false sense of security. Changing conditions like these can be extremely dangerous and require attention. Boaters are being urged to check water levels before heading out, and to slow down and keep a proper lookout at all times. Failing to adjust to the conditions can lead to damaged vessels, personal injury or worse. The photo serves as a visual warning not just for those heading to Blowering, but for inland waterways across Australia, especially as parts of the country remain in rainfall deficits amid lingering drought conditions. Australia's southern agricultural regions—especially parts of South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania—are facing some of their driest conditions on record. Regions across South Australia, including the Eyre, Yorke and Fleurieu Peninsulas, have received just a fraction of their average rainfall, with some areas recording less than 20 per cent of normal levels. Waterways have dried up completely in parts, prompting emergency water carting to sustain ecosystems. Southwestern Victoria, including around Warrnambool, and areas of western Tasmania are also in the grip of serious rainfall deficits, with Victoria recording one of its lowest 24-month rainfall totals on record. Urgent warning for boaters over major danger plaguing Aussie river Aussies warned of destructive habit having 'devastating' consequences Tourist's $700 boat nightmare at famous Aussie hotspot The Bureau of Meteorology has also flagged widespread below-average rainfall across southwestern Western Australia and Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania, with April figures falling into the lowest 10 per cent historically. These prolonged dry conditions are depleting soil moisture, damaging crops, and causing concern for livestock feed availability. NSW has been relatively less affected in the short term, though parts of the far west and northwest inland have also recorded patchy and below-average falls in recent months. You can check the latest dam levels and drought updates via the Bureau of Meteorology, and always refer to NSW Maritime for real-time alerts. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
