Millions of Australians warned to brace for big chill ‘wintry weekend’ as cold snap sends temperatures plummeting in NSW, Melbourne and Tasmania

The unusually warm weather in Australia over the past few weeks is likely to come to an abrupt end as we are in for a dramatic cold spell.

Colder temperatures will sweep across central and southeastern Australia on Friday as temperatures drop for millions of people.

Cold temperatures are expected across much of southern Australia, with Melbourne forecast to record highs six degrees below September’s average on Saturday.

Sunday could see temperatures on the New South Wales south coast be up to eight degrees colder than average.

A cold front moving east towards Tasmania is expected to bring rain southwards. The freezing storm battering south-eastern Australia is expected to continue into next week.

‘It will be almost wintery in Tasmania and Victoria this weekend’ Sky News said meteorologist Rob Sharpe.

‘That will push up the New South Wales coastline on Saturday afternoon and evening.’

But there is better news for northern Australia, where it is expected to remain warm, with Brisbane set to get even warmer this weekend.

Australia is set to be hit by a cold snap over the coming days, with the southeast (circled) being hit hardest.

Cold temperatures are expected to hit much of southern Australia this weekend, starting on Friday

Cold temperatures are expected to hit much of southern Australia this weekend, starting on Friday

Sydney

Saturday: Chance of fog in the far west in the early morning. Sunny day. Average chance of a shower near the coast, small chance elsewhere. Showers likely in the late afternoon and evening. Light wind becoming southerly at 15 to 25 km/h in the early afternoon, increasing to 25 to 35 km/h in the late evening. Min. 9. Max. 23.

Sunday: Cloudy. High chance of showers along the coast, medium chance elsewhere. Wind from the south 30 to 45 km/h, tending to south to southwest 20 to 30 km/h in the evening. Min. 10. Max. 17.

Monday: Small chance of a shower in the morning. Sunny day. Wind from the southwest 15 to 20 km/h, during the day shifting to the southeast 15 to 25 km/h and light in the evening. Min. 10. Max. 19.

Tuesday: Sunny. Light wind becoming northeasterly during the day 15 to 20 km/h. Min. 9. Max. 21.

Melbourne

Saturday: Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, probably in the morning and afternoon. Chance of thunderstorms in the eastern suburbs. Winds west 15 to 20 km/h, shifting to south to southwest 25 to 35 km/h early in the morning. Min. 9. Max. 12.

Sunday: Partly cloudy. Morning frost on nearby hills. Small chance of a shower. Wind from the south 15 to 25 km/h, shifting to the southwest 15 to 20 km/h in the evening. Min. 6. Max. 14.

Monday: Cloudy. Average chance of showers, probably in the morning and afternoon. Wind from the west to southwest 15 to 25 km/h, tending to south to southwest during the day and light in the evening. Min. 8. Max. 15.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Small chance of a shower. Light wind becoming northwesterly in the morning, 15 to 20 km/h. Min. 6. Max. 19.

Brisbane

Saturday: Partly cloudy. Wind south 15 to 20 km/h tending to southeast 15 to 25 km/h in the morning and then light in the evening. Min 13. Max 22.

Sunday: Mostly sunny. Chance of morning mist in the west. Small chance of a shower. Light wind that becomes southeasterly during the day at 20 to 30 km/h and becomes southerly in the evening at 15 to 25 km/h. Min. 12. Max. 25.

Monday: Partly cloudy. Wind from south to southeast 15 to 25 km/h, becoming light in the evening. Min. 12. Max. 22.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Light wind shifting from east to southeast 15 to 20 km/h during the day. Min 11. Max 23.

The sudden cold snap will be felt mainly in central and southeastern Australia on Friday

The sudden cold snap will be felt mainly in central and southeastern Australia on Friday

Melbourne's maximum temperature on Saturday is expected to be six degrees lower than the September average

Melbourne’s maximum temperature on Saturday is expected to be six degrees lower than the September average

Perth

Saturday: Sunny. Wind east 20 to 30 km/h, increasing to 25 to 35 km/h in the late evening. Min 13. Max 27.

Sunday: Sunny. Wind east 25 to 35 km/h. Min 13. Max 25.

Monday: Sunny. Wind east 15 to 25 km/h, tending to northeast during the day and then light in the afternoon. Min 12. Max 25.

Tuesday: Sunny. Winds east to northeast 15 to 20 km/h, shifting to west during the day. Min 12. Max 25.

Adelaide

Saturday: Partly cloudy. Small chance of a shower. Wind from the south to southeast and light, becoming southeast 20 to 30 km/h in the morning and increasing to 30 to 40 km/h in the late evening. Min. 8. Max. 17.

Sunday: Sunny. Wind southeast 25 to 40 km/h. Min 6. Max 17.

Monday: Sunny. Winds east to southeast 15 to 20 km/h, tending to south to southeast during the day and then light in the afternoon. Min 6. Max 18.

Tuesday: Sunny. Light wind becoming northwesterly in the morning 15 to 20 km/h. Min. 7. Max. 20.

Hobart

Saturday: Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, probably in the morning and afternoon. Possible small hail. Wind west 15 to 20 km/h, shifting to south 25 to 40 km/h in the morning and tending to southwest 15 to 25 km/h in the late evening. Min. 5. Max. 11.

Sunday: Cloudy. Average chance of showers, likely in the evening. Wind southwest 15 to 20 km/h, tending to west 15 to 25 km/h in the morning then increasing to 25 to 35 km/h during the day. Min 4. Max 13.

Monday: Cloudy. Average chance of showers, probably in the morning. Wind west 25 to 35 km/h, tending to northwest 15 to 25 km/h in the evening. Min. 8. Max. 14.

Tuesday: Cloudy. Average chance of showers, probably later in the day. Wind from the northwest 25 to 40 km/h. Min. 7. Max. 15.

Canberra

Saturday: Partly cloudy. Spots of frost and chance of fog in the morning. High chance of showers in the afternoon and evening. Light wind shifting from west to northwest 20 to 30 km/h in the middle of the day and shifting from south to 15 to 25 km/h in the evening. Min 0. Max 18.

Sunday: Partly cloudy. Small chance of a shower in the morning. Wind from the south 20 to 30 km/h, becoming light in the evening. Min 2. Max 14.

Monday: Sunny. Areas with morning frost. Light wind becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day and weak in the evening. Min. -4. Max. 19.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Areas with morning frost. Light wind becoming northwesterly during the day 15 to 25 km/h. Min. 0. Max. 19.

Southern coastal areas of New South Wales could be up to eight degrees colder than average on Sunday

Southern coastal areas of New South Wales could be up to eight degrees colder than average on Sunday

Cold temperatures brought by a cold front are expected to continue well into next week

Cold temperatures brought by a cold front are expected to continue well into next week

Darwin

Saturday: Sunny. Light wind shifting from east to southeast 15 to 25 km/h in the morning and then light in the evening. Min 23. Max 35.

Sunday: Mostly sunny. Light wind that becomes east to northeast 15 to 25 km/h during the day and tends to northwest to northeast 15 to 20 km/h in the afternoon. Min. 24. Max. 34.

Monday: Partly cloudy. Average chance of showers. Light wind shifting to north to northeast 15 to 20 km/h during the day and then weak in the evening. Min 24. Max 33.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, probably in the morning. Light wind becoming easterly during the day 15 to 20 km/h. Min. 23. Max. 31.