Australia Weekend Weather: Mostly Settled

But starting with our weather map before we look at the country, let's take a look at this cold front out in the Tasman Sea. Now that's the weather system that brought such cold weather to south-east Australia this week, with snow to low levels, hail and very cold temperatures. And we do still have some of that cold air lingering over the country, but for this weekend it's going to be this big high pressure system down to the south of the continent that's dominating our weather. And remembering that winds go anti-clockwise around a high pressure system, that could mean that we have some southerly winds pushing a few showers onto the southern coasts of the country. Over in the east though, we should see the winds tending more south-westerly, and that should mean that these showers mostly stay offshore, perhaps just a couple getting close to the coast through northern New South Wales and south-east Queensland. As we go further north, those winds turn more south-easterly and that will push a few showers onto the north coast of Queensland, particularly around the north tropical coast. And there's also this little trough sitting near the Gulf of Carpentaria, and that could bring some showers and possibly some thunderstorms to the north-west coast of Queensland and maybe north-eastern parts of the Top End. Across the rest of the country though, we're looking very settled, mostly sunny and mostly dry.

To start with, we can see lots of sunshine icons. It will be a sunny day across most of the state, with the exception, as we've discussed, of the far north with those showers along the north tropical coast, and also possible showers or thunderstorms up around particularly the Gulf Coasts. Around the southern inland, those clear skies and light winds during the morning could mean that we have some frost patches, particularly around the Darling Downs and the Granite Belt, with very cold temperatures during the morning, but lots of sunshine during the day. In Brisbane it'll be a bit warmer than today, 25 °C, probably mostly sunny for much of the day, but perhaps some cloud developing later in the afternoon and the slight chance of a shower over coastal suburbs into the evening.

Down in New South Wales, as we've discussed, those showers will mostly stay offshore. However, there's a slight chance of something getting close to the coast around the northern parts of the coast, otherwise looking very sunny apart from just a bit of cloud out in the west. Again, with clear skies and light winds, that's good conditions for frost and fog, so we could see some frost or fog patches, particularly around the ranges or the western slopes. In the ACT, just 1 °C overnight for Canberra, so a frosty start there, 18 °C during the day. A little bit warmer in Sydney, 22 °C and mostly sunny. But if the sun is going to mean you're heading for the beach, make sure you're aware that we have a Hazardous Surf Warning for the Sydney and the Hunter coasts. Large and powerful southerly waves will make conditions hazardous for activities such as swimming and rock fishing.

Down in Victoria, we have some cloud through the south and also through parts of the west. Now, we could see a couple of little showers in that, mostly expecting very low rainfall totals, but a little bit here and there. Up in the north-east, we won't see much cloud, so that again could mean some morning fog or frost patches and then lots of sunshine during the day. For Melbourne, we're looking at temperatures similar to today, a top of 16 °C with the chance of a shower or two.

Down in Tasmania, it should be a slightly warmer day than today. We're looking at perhaps some showers through the west or the south with some cloud, but up in the north-east there will be clear skies again, perhaps some morning frost patches and then lots of sunshine. Hobart, a partly cloudy top of 18 °C. Launceston, mostly sunny and 21 °C.

In South Australia, as we've discussed, those southerly winds will push some cloud and some showers into particularly southern parts of the state, although we could see some cloud getting into the north as well. A little bit less likely to see showers getting that far north though. We're looking at temperatures mostly near or slightly below the May average. Pretty close to average actually for Adelaide, a top of 19 °C there with just the chance of a shower or two.

Over in Western Australia, we're looking at very sunny conditions. The exception is down around the Eucla district, where we could see one or two showers pushing particularly onto the coast, maybe one or two a little bit further inland. Otherwise we're looking at sunny conditions, maybe a little bit windy through central and northern parts of the state. Perth is heading for a top of 24 °C and mostly sunny there.

And up in the north, we continue to see dry and settled weather as well. We're looking at potentially a pretty cold start down in central Australia with some frost patches. Just 1 °C on the forecast for Alice Springs, a top of 19 °C during the day, and even further north we're going to see a dry south-easterly surge keeping things a little bit breezier and a little bit cooler than we have seen. Top of 34 °C for Darwin, maybe just, as we've discussed, that chance of a shower around the far north-east of the Top End.

Now taking a look at Mother's Day, the pattern hasn't changed very much compared to Saturday. That big high pressure system still dominating, still looking at very settled conditions across the country. Maybe just a slightly higher chance of a shower or two along the east coast as that high moves eastwards and the winds go a little bit more southerly, continuing to see that chance of showers over the south-east Queensland coast as well. And also through the north, and still some showers or thunderstorms possible around the Gulf of Carpentaria through the Western Peninsula and also eastern parts of the Top End. The rest of the country looking very settled, apart from just one or two showers along the southern coasts, temperatures generally within a degree or two of the May average.

And that's it for our weather update. Make sure you stay up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings on the Bureau's website, app and social media. Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all the mums out there.