Christmas weather: Australians face sweltering heat and heavy rain
Australians face everything from sweltering heat to heavy rain over Christmas, with some major cities hitting above 30 degrees over the holiday period.
Weatherzone meteorologist Craig McIntosh told Yahoo News Australia a high-pressure ridge building on the east coast would clash with warmth inland, which has tropical moisture, heading east.
“So, that means the two will be acting against each other,” he said.
“One will stop the other one from being too cool. The other will stop the other from being too hot.”
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Dean Narramore told the ABC the lead up to Christmas might contain some flash flooding though, particularly in South East Queensland and northern parts of NSW.
NSW’s Christmas weather
Residents in Sydney can expect some light showers on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Conditions will be partly cloudy with tops of 26C both days and lows of about 17 to 19, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Expect up to about 1mm of rain on both days.
Boxing Day might also see light showers in Sydney.
Towns across the NSW South Coast can look forward to similar conditions.
In Northern NSW, Byron Bay could potentially receive up to 15mm of rain on Christmas Day, with the temperature forecast to reach a maximum of 24C.
Areas including Tenterfield and Glen Innes could receive a wet start to the week too with heavy rainfalls of up to 20mm on Sunday and 60mm.
ACT’s Christmas weather
Meanwhile in Canberra, temperatures will be in the high 20s on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
It will be partly cloudy on December 24 before the skies opening up on December 25.
But it won’t be heavy rainfall, with up to 1mm expected.
Expect similar conditions on Boxing Day.
Queensland’s Christmas weather
The Sunshine State can also expect some showers late in the day on Christmas Eve and on the following day in Brisbane.
The temperature should top 25 to 27 with lows of 21 to 22 both days.
Brisbane’s Boxing Day weather should be much the same with a slight chance of a shower.
Up to 3mm of rain is forecast for Christmas Eve and up to 8mm on Christmas Day.
Santa Claus can be forgiven for donning shorts on visiting North Queensland, with temperatures maxing in the lows 30s.
Up to 4mm of rain is forecast for both December 24 and 25 too.
Victoria’s Christmas Day weather
People enjoying the holiday period in Melbourne will enjoy slightly cooler conditions than their northern neighbours.
Both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day shouldn’t see the temperature eclipse 22, with partly cloudy conditions.
It’s a different story for Shepparton though which could have both days topping 31.
Boxing Day in Melbourne should be mostly sunny as temperatures rise to a top of 28.
South Australia’s Christmas weather
Conditions will be mostly sunny in Adelaide with tops of 29 both days before it reaches a possible 34 on Boxing Day.
Port Augusta residents could be in for back-to-back days, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, topping 33.
Western Australia’s Christmas weather
In the west, Santa is bringing people in Perth a gift: a reprieve from the heat.
While Christmas Eve will see the city topping a sweltering 38, Christmas Day will max out at 31. Expect some cloudy conditions.
Perth’s Boxing Day will continue the trend in temperature drops with a top of 29.
Broome residents can expect tops in the mid to low 30s with possible showers and storms.
A deluge is on the way for areas north of Broome including Derby with 35mm forecast for Sunday and up to possibly 70mm on Monday.
Northern Territory’s Christmas weather
It could be a wet Christmas period in Darwin this year with storms and showers forecast.
Up to 10mm could fall on all three days with temperatures topping about 31 to 32.
Alice Springs could reach 29 on Christmas Eve before topping 32 on Christmas Day.
Expect some cloudy conditions.
Tasmania’s Christmas weather
Hobart is in for a cool Christmas with conditions barely eclipsing 20.
Christmas Eve will see a top of 20 before it drops to a maximum of 16 the following day.
There is some possible rainfall forecast, but at this stage it might only be 1mm.
Boxing Day will be much warmer as Hobart tops 24.
Launceston will be slightly warmer over the Christmas period with similar showers forecast.
Christmas Eve has a top of 24 forecast while Christmas Day these conditions will slightly cool to 21.
Boxing Day will see a top of 22.
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