Millions of Australians to shiver through chilly night as a blast of Antarctic air sees mercury drop

Millions of Australians to shiver through a wintry night as a blast of Antarctic air sees temperatures hit FREEZING – here’s how cold it is in your area

  • Blast of Antarctic air brings chilly conditions to NSW, Victoria and Tasmania
  • All three states have had their first taste of snow for 2021 in recent days
  • Much of NSW will shiver another night of chilly temperatures on Monday

Millions of Australians will shiver through another chilly night as temperatures plummet from a blast of Antarctic air.

Most regions across New South Wales  are advised to rug up on Monday night, where overnight temperatures in some areas will drop below zero as a result of a cold front from Australia’s south-east.

Australia also experienced its first taste of snow for 2021 with parts of Victoria, Tasmania and NSW blanketed in white powder as south-east Queensland woke up to a frosty morning. 

The mercury in parts of Sydney will drop into single digits while Canberra will  plummet to a freezing 0C on Monday night. 

Sydneysiders will shiver through single digit overnight temperatures on Monday night (stock image)

‘Another chilly one across much of NSW tonight before the current blast of Antarctic air loosens its grip,’ the Bureau of Meteorology tweeted.

‘Many places recorded temps 5 to 7C below average, and the wind chill made it feel even colder. But things warm up somewhat from mid week.’

Bathurst in central-west NSW will get down to 1C, while some parts of the Upper Hunter region such as Scone and Muswellbrook will drop to as low as 4C.

The cold snap saw some areas experiencing temperatures as much as 11 degrees below average on Sunday night as minimum April records were set in several regional areas.

Kempsey on the NSW mid north coast got down to 2.2C, beating its previous April low of 3C, well below the minimum April average of 13C.

Tamworth in the state’s north-west recorded -0.5C, which is colder than the previous April record of -0.2C.

Canberrans also shivered through their coldest night in eight months after -2.6C was recorded at the airport.

Australia has had its first taste of snow for 2021 in Tasmania, Victoria and NSW. Pictured NSW ski resort Thredbo on Monday

Australia has had its first taste of snow for 2021 in Tasmania, Victoria and NSW. Pictured NSW ski resort Thredbo on Monday 

Temperatures will plummet to as low as zero along the east coast on Monday night

Temperatures will plummet to as low as zero along the east coast on Monday night

The cold front moved in over Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia on Saturday, bringing freezing conditions, low-level snow, heavy swells and the first frost of the year.

Melbourne on Sunday woke to its coldest morning since October 20 last year according to the Bureau of Meteorology, with the mercury dipping to 8.3C.  

BOM Meteorologist Helen Reid said the cold front has moved to NSW from Victoria, bringing snow to the alpine regions of both states and chilly winds for most of NSW.

The wind chill factor in many places, including Sydney, has made conditions feel even colder.

‘Right across the state we’ve had minimum temperatures of about six to nine degrees below average and some places were even 11 degrees below average,’ Ms Reid said in a statement.

An image posted to social media on Sunday from Cradle Mountain, Tasmania with the caption 'We woke to the most beautiful winter wonderland this morning'

An image posted to social media on Sunday from Cradle Mountain, Tasmania with the caption ‘We woke to the most beautiful winter wonderland this morning’

Much of NSW will wake up to chilly temperatures on Tuesday before the weather warms up

Much of NSW will wake up to chilly temperatures on Tuesday before the weather warms up

‘We did see just a little dusting for most of the resorts through (the NSW Snowy Mountains) … we don’t expect it to last very long, we don’t have much snow there at the moment.

‘We wouldn’t want to say it’s the start of the ski season but it’s just a teaser of what winter may hold.

The bureau says the cold snap will be short lived, with temperatures likely to lead to frost in a number of areas on Tuesday before warmer temperatures return on Wednesday.

More regular April temperatures are likely to return by Wednesday, while another cold front is expected to arrive later this week.

Cradle Mountain blanketed in snow provided a stunning photo backdrop on Monday

Cradle Mountain blanketed in snow provided a stunning photo backdrop on Monday 

THREE DAY WEATHER FORECAST 

SYDNEY  

Tuesday: Min 11. Max 25. Sunny.

Wednesday: Min 15. Max 29. Partly cloudy 

Thursday: Min 16. Max 25. Partly cloudy 

MELBOURNE       

Tuesday: Min 9. Max 20. Partly cloudy.

Wednesday: Min 14. Max 19. Shower or two

Thursday: Min 11. Max 19. Shower or two 

CANBERRA 

Tuesday: Min 1. Max 18. Mostly sunny.

Wednesday: Min 8. Max 20. Partly cloudy

Thursday: Min 6. Max 20. Mostly sunny  

DARWIN   

Tuesday:  Min 25. Max 33. Partly cloudy.

Wednesday: Min 24. Max 33. Possible early storm

Thursday:  Min 24. Max 33. Mostly sunny

 BRISBANE   

Tuesday: Min 14. Max 25.  Partly cloudy.

Wednesday: Min 15. Max 27. Mostly sunny

Thursday: Min 16. Max 29. Sunny 

ADELAIDE 

Tuesday: Min 14. Max 26. Possible late shower.

Wednesday: Min 14. Max 21.Possible shower 

Thursday:  Min 12. Max 21. Possible shower

PERTH 

Tuesday: Min 11. Max 20. Partly cloudy. 

Wednesday: Min 10. Max 21. Mostly sunny

Thursday: Min 11. Max 24. Sunny 

HOBART    

Tuesday: Min 8. Max 18. Cloudy.

Wednesday: Min 12. Max 17. Shower or two

Thursday: Min 10. Max 17. Shower or two 

Source: Bureau of Meteorology