Issued: Friday, 8 September 2023
A cold front which brought thunder, lightning and damaging winds to parts of eastern and southeast Australia yesterday and overnight is moving out to sea.
Following the front, a strong, cold, westerly wind flow is impacting many southern areas of the country.
Damaging Wind Warnings are still current for parts of Victoria, New South Wales and King Island (north of Tasmania).
The southwest flow could see gusts reach over 90 – 100 km/hr today but are set to ease during the second half of the day for most areas.
Some of the strongest winds recorded in the 24 hours to 9am AEST today include:
- 142 km/hr at Thredbo, NSW
- 137 km/hr at Hotham, Vic
- 111 km/hr at the Limestone, SA
- 109 km/hr at Port Fairy, Vic
- 104 km/hr at Condobolin, NSW
- 90 km/hr at Penrith Lakes, NSW
- 81 km/hr at Melbourne Airport, Vic
With the continued strong winds, there will be showers and small hail for large parts of Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania today that will ease by this afternoon.
Sheep Graziers Warnings are current for parts of Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania for upcoming cold, windy and wet conditions.
Large waves are also expected in the southeast of the country today.
A Damaging Surf Warning has been issued for pasts of the southwest, central, west, and south Gippsland forecast districts in Victoria. Waves in excess of 7 meters are possible, easing later in the day.
In the north, thunderstorms are continuing for parts of central and northern New South Wales.
The thunderstorm risk spreads into southeast Queensland today, with the possibility of severe thunderstorms in eastern regions from Port Macquarie (NSW) up to the Capricornia district (Qld), including parts of the southeast coast and eastern downs (Qld).
The main concern with these thunderstorms is the possibility of damaging wind gusts, large hail, and heavy rain.
The cold air will linger over southeast Australia during the weekend, with showers, small hail and low-level snow persisting over Tasmania and southern Victoria.
New South Wales and northern Victoria are set to have dry, sunny weather over the weekend, with frosty mornings inland.
In the north, thunderstorms will mostly contract offshore although some may linger through southeast Queensland on Saturday.
