The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting cool and wet conditions for the October long weekend. Photo: Region.
Soak up the sunshine before the rain hits the ACT and southeast NSW this long weekend.
That’s the message from the Bureau of Meteorology, which is warning of a low-pressure trough on the horizon.
Spokesperson Casey McCarthy told Region that the system will arrive in Canberra on Friday (2 October), bringing unsettled conditions across southern Australia.
“It’s all fairly normal for this time of year,” he said.
“Southern parts of NSW keep being exposed to these systems … It’s all quite routine with regards to the weather, with troughs or cold fronts brushing the southeast of Australia in that winter-spring period.”
As the mercury drops, the rain will arrive, along with the risk of thunderstorms.
But the clouds across southern Australia are expected to clear by Sunday, even as temperatures stay low into early next week.
It means the mid-20s temperatures Canberrans are enjoying now will be in the high teens by Friday.
According to the Bureau, Canberra will peak at 26 degrees today (1 October), before dropping to around 20 degrees for the next few days.
The ACT is also looking at an overnight low of 5 degrees (on Sunday).
Mr McCarthy said the system will bring rain, with the heaviest falls expected overnight into Saturday.
“Storms are also a risk during late Friday and early Saturday … [Canberra] could pick up 15 to 30 millimetres or so over a couple of days.
“The main piece of uncertainty there is how quickly it eases.”
If you’re an NRL fan heading to the grand final, Sydney Olympic Park will reach 24 degrees and be mostly sunny for the Big Dance.
For Batemans Bay, the weekend is looking like a wet one. Photo: John Lomnicki.
A similar picture is expected across coastal NSW after the trough arrives by Friday evening.
The BoM forecasts temperatures hovering around 20 degrees throughout the long weekend.
In welcome news, the system will bring some long-awaited rain to the drought-affected southeast.
“Rainfall totals would depend on the speed and positioning of that low-pressure area [in the atmosphere],” Mr McCarthy said.
“With current guidance, we’re expecting about that 20 to 30 millimetre mark for the South Coast, with a potential to increase.”
Lighter rainfall and cloudy conditions will continue into Sunday, as the trough continues moving out to sea.
For those holding their breath for some powder to close out this year’s snow season, it’s not looking good.
Mr McCarthy said that while precipitation above the snow level of 1900 metres could bring some snowfall, it’s not expected to amount to much.
“It’s been a pretty lean season and early ending for most [of the resorts] … Across the peaks, we could see some snow flurries but nothing substantial.”
It’s been a disappointing snow season, with much of the Alps reporting record warmth through June and July.
Perisher, Thredbo, Charlotte Pass and Selwyn resorts have all shut ahead of the long weekend, which marks the traditional end of the season.
Original Article published by Claire Sams on Region Canberra.
