Like a bag of multi-coloured Easter eggs with different fillings, Australia can expect a range of different weather across the Easter long weekend, although mostly dry conditions should prevail in many areas.

The major weather feature affecting Australia’s weather will be a large high pressure system centred near Tasmania during the weekend, which moves in after a relatively weak cold front flicks the southeast mainland and Tasmania on Thursday and Friday.

The high will bring stable conditions to a broad swathe of the country. However, onshore winds circulating anti-clockwise around the high will generate showers for the east coast of the mainland.

Shower activity will also be widespread in the tropics as the wet season enters its last few weeks, while a trough developing over Western Australia should bring showers to inland parts of that state.

Here’s our breakdown of capital city weather for the four-day Easter break from Friday through to Monday:

Melbourne

After a cool day with a maximum around 18°C on Good Friday, expect tops of 26°C and 27°C by Sunday and Monday respectively. Showers should arrive on Monday, and at this stage look likely to persist into the new working week. 

Sydney

The harbour city can expect a warm Good Friday with a maximum around 26°C, with the cold front down south having minimal immediate impact. Clouds and cooler air will make an appearance by Saturday as winds swing to cooler southerlies, with showery conditions that should persist right through the long weekend.

Brisbane

Expect maximums of 28°C or 29°C right across the Easter break in the Queensland capital. Skies will be sunny for large periods of time, but a shower or two could blow in with the easterly wind flow.

Perth

For those hoping for dry, mild conditions, Perth will just about have the pick of the Easter capital city weather. Maximums will be in the mid-twenties with only a very slight chance of a shower, as the trough mentioned at the top of this story generates the heaviest showers much further inland in regions like the Goldfields.

Image: Much warmer conditions are likely in Tasmania and Victoria by Easter Monday, with warm conditions also likely across much of the country. Source: Weatherzone.

Canberra

The national capital should enjoy a mostly fine and relatively mild Easter, with the coolest day being Saturday with a maximum of 19°C, when a light overnight shower could make an appearance. Overnight lows should stay in double digits throughout the break, which will make for pleasant conditions in a month when the average minimum is 6.8°C.

Adelaide

Expect a dry start to the long weekend in Adelaide, with temperatures rising to 29°C by Sunday before a few showers potentially arrive by Monday ahead of the next weak cold front which clips the southeastern mainland.

Image: Daily Forecast for Adelaide, SA, on the Weatherzone app.

Hobart

Tasmania can expect a brisk start to the break, with a forecast high of just 15°C in Hobart for Friday, which would be the chilliest day since the unseasonable could outbreak back on December 1. Dry weather and a steady warming trend should set in until late Monday, when the next cold front arrives.

Darwin

The official wet season in the Northern Territory’s Top End runs from November through to the end of April, so it should be no surprise that afternoon showers are still on the Darwin forecast throughout the Easter period. Maximums will range between 32°C and 34°C.

Whatever the weather in your area this Easter, we hope you get a good break if you’re not working, and that your loved ones spoil you with far too much chocolate.