Australia's Major Cities Endure Freezing Cold: Record-Breaking Polar Blast Decimates Temperatures in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Leaving Residents B bundled up - Predicting the Extreme Cold Spell's Impact on Your Location
Australia's Southeast Braces for a Chilly Blast
Brace yourselves, Aussies! Sydney has officially recorded its coldest day of 2025, after a whirl of polar airmass, winds, and showers sent shockwaves across Australia's southeast.
On Wednesday morning, the mercury in Sydney barely nudged over 10°C by 9am, accompanied by a "feels like" temperature of a frosty 5.3°C. The chilly weather didn't end there, as temperatures plummeted even further in Greater Sydney. Mount Boyce in the Blue Mountains hit a mind-numbing 2.5°C at 9:30am, with a bone-chilling "feels like" temperature of -2.9°C due to icy winds[1].
The Blue Mountains saw snowflakes dancing in the air, with more snowfall expected in the alpine region this long weekend[1]. Terrey Hills on Sydney's Northern Beaches felt the cold too, with temperatures only managing to reach 8.7°C at 9:30am, making it feel like 4.8°C outside[1].
The mercury peaked at a maximum of 15°C, two degrees below the average for June. Thankfully, Sydneysiders can look forward to a slight reprieve on Thursday, with temperatures forecast to reach 17°C[1]. However, that brief respite won't last long, as temperatures will plunge again on Friday, dipping down to a nippy 6°C[1].
But that's not all! A low-pressure system over the Tasman Sea is sending strong swells along the NSW coastline, accompanied by powerful wind gusts and showers[1]. As a result, the Bureau of Meteorology has issued a hazardous surf warning for several coastlines, including Byron Bay, Coffs Coast, Macquarie Coast, Hunter Coast, Sydney Coast, and Illawarra Coast[1]. Furthermore, gale or strong wind warnings have been issued for the entire NSW coastline[1].
The wet weather isn't exclusive to Sydney, as Perth has experienced its wettest day of the year, and since July 2024. Over the 48 hours ending at 9am AWST on Wednesday, Perth picked up a total of 47.6mm of rain, with 33.2mm of it falling in the last 24 hours. This made it Perth's wettest day in eleven months[1]. Bickley, southwest of Perth's CBD, saw an impressive 41mm of rainfall in the 24 hours to 9am on Wednesday, marking the suburb's heaviest daily rainfall in nine months[1].
The wet weather is expected to clear up by Thursday and Friday, but a cold front could potentially impact the state's southwest from early next week[1]. For Australians, this means grabbing a hot cup of cocoa and huddling up by the fire until warmer weather comes around.
Sources:
[1] Weatherzone, 2025.
[2] Bureau of Meteorology, 2025.
Australians planning travel should be aware of the current weather conditions, as a chilly blast sweeping across Australia's southeast hasresulted in unusually low temperatures and potentially hazardous conditions. In fact, weather-forecasting reports predict a continued cold snap in Sydney, with temperatures dipping to 6°C on Friday. Those traveling to Perth should also prepare for wet weather, as the city has experienced its wettest day of the year, with more rain expected to clear up by Thursday.
