Australia, which briefly forgot it was supposed to be autumn, is about to be reminded in the most dramatic way possible. Record-breaking warm temperatures that had large parts of the country basking in May highs 10 to 14C above average are being washed out by a cold front bringing rain, thunderstorms, and the kind of temperature drop that makes you question your life choices.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) explained that a high-pressure system had been dragging warm northerly winds across south-east Australia, giving residents a taste of summer they hadn't asked for. On Friday, daytime temperatures in parts of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania soared 10 to 14C above average, with dozens of stations recording their warmest May day ever. Victoria's Geelong, Shepparton, and Bendigo joined the club with highs in the high 20s, while Tasmania's Hobart and Launceston recorded 26.9C and 24.3C respectively - numbers that would make a February day jealous.
Even the nights refused to cooperate with seasonal norms, with temperatures across parts of South Australia, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, and NSW running eight to 12C above average on Friday night. To add insult to injury, Australia also had its driest April since 2018, because why not compound the weirdness?
But the fun is over. A cold front over the Southern Ocean - the one that circles Antarctica, because there's no escaping it - merged with a cloud band moving over Western Australia to form a weather system that swept across South Australia on Saturday, headed straight for Victoria and Tasmania. BoM meteorologist Christie Johnson noted the "unseasonably warm conditions over the last couple of weeks" before delivering the bad news: "As we move into Sunday, we do see that cooler air extending across SA and into western Victoria, with maximum temperatures dropping just back into the high teens. And finally on Monday, the cold air will make its way right across the south-east, with much cooler temperatures. And this will feel particularly cool … given the warm temperatures we’ve had recently."
Thunderstorms, rain, windy conditions, and "abnormally high tides" are expected over south-eastern Australia through the weekend and into next week, with a risk of severe storms, heavy rainfall, and potentially flash flooding. Sydney, ever the lucky city, will be spared the wintry blast, with temperatures forecast to remain in the mid-20s most of the week - reaching 26C on Sunday before a mere 25C on Monday. Melbourne, on the other hand, gets rain all week, with a high of 23C on Sunday dropping to a shivery 13C by Thursday. Pack a parka, Melbourne - summer was fun while it lasted.