News

Snow showers this afternoon, before another stretch of dry, warm weather. A proper change is due next week.

Summary:

A low pressure system is over central Bass Strait this morning (just south of Melbourne). This low will move northeastwards during the day, then dissipate this afternoon. Wet weather, in the form of showers and the risk of thunderstorms, is circling around the low - so some alpine areas have a dry morning, but precipitation will return this afternoon, before easing again tonight.

This is driven by an upper level cold pool, which is letting it fall as snow down to around 1500 metres. The cold pool will remain over alpine areas until tonight, with 2 to 5 cm of snow likely this afternoon. There may be showers left over in New South Wales alpine areas on Tuesday, but it turns dry for Victoria.

A strong high pressure system will anchor itself to our southeast for the remainder of the week, extending a ridge over Victoria - while low pressure over the Tasman Sea pushes rain or showers along the east coast. This brings another stretch of dry weather for alpine areas and warm temperatures.

Outlook:

High pressure will remain in control over the coming weekend, but there is a sign of a change in the following week. 

We may be able to break this pattern of dominant high pressure, and change to having cold fronts move through, dragging cold, polar air, up from the southwest. The first front will do the hard work, pushing the high out of the way - so I would expect mostly rain with that one - but if a front can follow, it will be a proper snow system.

Commentary above courtesy of Jane's Weather.  www.janesweather.com