Severe Weather and Wintry Conditions to Hit Southeast Australia

A cold front and associated troughs are forecast to move across southeast Australia late this week. This system is expected to bring severe thunderstorms, followed by wintry conditions into the weekend.

Thursday: Prefrontal Thunderstorms and Strong Winds

On Thursday, April 9, a prefrontal trough will cross southeast Australia, potentially generating severe thunderstorms in parts of southern South Australia (SA), Victoria (Vic), and southern New South Wales (NSW). These storms are anticipated to produce damaging wind gusts, with destructive winds possible in certain locations due to strong winds aloft.

Separately, a tightening pressure gradient is predicted to cause strong northerly to northwesterly winds, with gusts potentially surpassing 80 km/h in elevated areas and reaching 90-100 km/h in the ranges of Victoria, alpine regions, and parts of Tasmania (Tas).

Weekend Outlook: Wintry Blast Arrives

Following the cold front's passage on Thursday, April 9, a colder airmass is expected to move across the southeast on Friday, April 10. A secondary trough and low pressure system will contribute to a transition to wintry conditions over the weekend.

Wind speeds are forecast to increase, with gusts potentially exceeding 100 km/h in exposed and elevated areas.

As the cold air intensifies across the region, snow could fall at elevations as low as 600 meters in parts of Tasmania.

Isolated snow flurries may also occur in the Victorian ranges above 1000 meters if the cold air extends sufficiently north. Cold air thunderstorms, possibly accompanied by small hail, are also a possibility, marking an early-season wintry outbreak for April in southeast Australia.