A powerful cold front will cause damaging winds, heavy rain, hail, snow and bitterly cold temperatures across the southern half of Australia towards the end of this week. This blast of wintry weather is likely to cause severe weather in at least four states.

Antarctic low heading for Australia

A low pressure system that is currently lurking at the edge of Antarctica is expected to track towards the northeast over the next few days. Computer models suggest the low will travel more than 4,000 km between Wednesday and Saturday, allowing the system to pass to the south of Australia this weekend.

This low pressure system will drag a large mass of polar air towards Australia as it traverses the Southern Ocean. Based on the forecast trajectory of the low, this Antarctic air mass will get driven across southern Australia between Saturday and Monday.

Western Australia

The cold front is expected to arrive in the southwest of WA on Friday night into Saturday morning, before pushing across the southern half of the state on Saturday.

The passage of the front will cause rain, thunderstorms and blustery winds across the state’s south and southwest. Some areas in the south could also see small hail as the coldest air arrives behind the front.

Perth will see pre-frontal rain on Friday before more wintry weather arrives on Saturday, including cold southwesterly winds, showers and possibly thunderstorms and small hail. The temperature in Perth is only forecast to reach 16°C on Saturday, although brisk winds should make it feel lower than 10°C for most of the day.

South Australia

The cold front will cross SA from Saturday afternoon into Sunday, likely reaching Adelaide on Sunday morning or early afternoon.

Showers will develop over SA on Saturday ahead of the cold front and increase to more widespread rain as the front passes over the state on Saturday night and Sunday.

Strong and blustery winds will also develop with and behind the cold front, with damaging wind gusts possible in some parts of the state during Sunday.

Adelaide is forecast to see a maximum temperature of 16°C on Sunday, although like Perth, most of the day will feel colder than 10°C due to wind, cloud and showers.

Southeastern Australia

Wind and rain will increase over southeastern Australia from Saturday into Sunday, as northerly winds strengthen ahead of the approaching cold front. This pre-frontal air will be relatively warm, allowing most of the precipitation to initially fall as rain and not snow, except for higher terrain in the Alps.

At this stage, the cold air will spread over NSW, Victoria, southern Queensland and the ACT from late Sunday into Monday, then Tasmania on Monday.

Blustery winds, rain, hail, thunderstorms and snow will all occur in southeastern Australia on Sunday and Monday under the influence of this wintry system. This should include damaging to destructive winds and flooding rain.

Damaging wind gusts are likely to develop in parts of Vic, NSW and the ACT and may also extend to Tas. This should include destructive gusts and blizzard conditions in the Alps.

Image: Forecast wind gusts at 10am AEST on Monday, August 10, 2026. Source: Weatherzone.

Rain will be widespread across Australia's southeastern states on Sunday and Monday, with the heaviest falls expected to occur along the ranges in central and northeast Vic and southern NSW. Northern Tas could also see heavy falls on Sunday and Monday. Some areas could see 50 to 100 mm of rain within 24 hours.

Heavy snow potential

This is shaping up to be one of the biggest snow-bearing systems of the year for southeastern Australia. Despite warm air and heavy rain ahead of the front on Sunday, the arrival of cold air late Sunday into Monday will provide ideal conditions for a decent amount of snow in the mainland Alps. It might even get cold enough for snow to fall in parts of central and northern NSW on Monday.

Staying safe during this weather event

This cold front is likely to cause severe weather over several states this weekend and early next week. This could include damaging to destructive winds, heavy rain, flooding and blizzards.

Check the latest warnings in your area for the most up-to-date information on severe weather impacts.

If you need emergency assistance, contact the SES on 132 500. Always call triple zero if you are in a life-threatening situation.