Australians shiver as antarctic gusts hit the coast and cold air and snow falls near Sydney
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Major freeze hits Australia: Antarctic blast ravages east coast and SNOW dumps just outside Sydney as temperatures in Melbourne dip to single digits – just four weeks into summer
- Aussies have woken up to a chilly morning as the coast is ravaged by icy weather
- Antarctic winds have been dragged north through a bend in the polar jet stream
- The polar jet stream has collided with the subtropical jet stream over Aus
- Snow has fallen outside Sydney as flood warnings are issued for outback NSW
- Temperatures have dropped to a few digits in Canberra and Melbourne
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Australians have woken up to a frosty morning as the country is ravaged by two jet streams that have pooled cold air over the east coast.
The cold Antarctic air has been dragged north by a pollen in the polar jet stream – a wind band that flows continuously about 8 to 15 km above sea level.
Icy gusts swept the east coast and snow dumps just outside Sydney and in the southeastern Alpine region as the polar jet stream collides with the separate subtropical jet stream.
It comes as Melbourne and Canberra residents experience temperatures in the single digits – with the country’s capital hitting just six degrees on Wednesday morning and Melbourne nine degrees, with the mercury set to rise throughout the day.
Icy gusts have ravaged the east coast and snow dumps just outside Sydney and in the south east of the Alps
Antarctic air has been dragged north through a bend in the polar jet stream, which has collided with the subtropical jet stream
Inland NSW has also experienced widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms.
The central west of the state is expected to suffer the most from snow conditions above 800 meters around Lithgow, Orange and Bathurst and more rain will flood the already swollen creeks and watersheds.
Lighter snowfall will extend further west, while maximum temperatures will be 10 to 15 below normal in many areas in NSW.
NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway warned motorists in the region to be careful of wet and icy roads.
“Recent extreme weather has severely damaged roads across the state’s network and the forecast of more rain and possible snow only heightens our concerns,” he said.
“The potential for snow and sleet on roads in the Central West will create additional hazards on the road.
“Some areas in the western part of the state have had no rain for days, but we don’t see the flooding abate yet.”
A dangerous mix of weather was created by the two jet streams colliding over land due to the contrast in air mass density and temperature.
The polar current brings cold air from Antarctica, while the subtropical air sends through warmer air.
Severe weather warnings for damaging winds have now been issued for parts of Queensland, NSW and South Australia.
Sydneysiders along the coast have woken up to icy gusts (stock image)
Temperatures have dropped to single digits in Canberra and Melbourne (pictured, race goers at Flemington Racecourse for the 2022 Melbourne Cup braving the rain)
Snow has fallen in several regions of NSW, and the central west of the state is expected to suffer the most from the conditions
Flood warnings are also in effect in regions of eastern and southeastern Australia as the wild weather brings heavy rain.
Major floods are expected on Wednesday in Coonamble and Nanami in NSW, and on Friday in Forbes, which had a torrential downpour last month. The Bureau of Meteorology also expects major flooding on the Bogan River.
More than 90 SES hazard warnings are current for NSW, with 48 flood rescues and nearly 760 calls for help.
Evacuation orders have been issued for residents of Moama, Mathoura, Cowra and Tumut.
Weatherzone meteorologist Yoska Hernandez told Daily Mail Australia conditions should ease in the coming days.
“The worst weather should be today and tomorrow with damaging winds, snowfall and showers.”
‘The high pressure area will regulate the weather in the southeast for the next few days.’
She added that the jet stream was already heading east to the Tasman Sea.