Brutal polar blast hits Australia: How cold it will get in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and more
All capital cities around Australia, except Darwin, are set to start the day below 10C for the rest of the working week.
A cold front is forecast to bring below-average temperatures to large parts of Queensland with morning frost stretching from the outback to Brisbane 's west.
But while those in the Sunshine State's capital will enjoy clear skies on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sydney and Melbourne are expected to see clouds and showers through the rest of the week.
Dean Narramore, from the Bureau of Meteorology, predicted the wet weather would largely avoid the regions that need it most.
'We're continuing to see, as you'd expect, winter light conditions and cold across much of eastern and southeastern Australia,' he said.
'But the wet weather associated with the low that's been driving this won't be too common through southeastern parts.
'Just some isolated showers through parts of Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.
'Well over in the west, we'll see a cold front move through southwestern parts of WA, and high pressure continues to dominate the rest of the country.'
Rainfall in May was below average in southern WA, most of SA and Victoria, northern and western Tasmania, western NSW, areas surrounding Queensland's Gulf of Carpentaria, and the Northern Territory.
Some light rainfall is expected to bring some relief to the drought-stricken Eyre Peninsula from Thursday.
Weatherzone meteorologist Anthony Sharwood said snow in alpine regions across NSW and Victoria fell 'in two waves' as a polar blast hit over the long weekend.
'A cold front that passed through southeastern Australia on Saturday delivered the first batch from the west, with a low pressure system then feeding more moisture onshore,' he said.
The fall was good news for skiing fans with the system creating a solid base at several resorts.
'When the clouds clear and the freshly fallen snow compacts, expect a natural snow base of around 50cm on the higher slopes, with numerous lift openings imminent,' Mr Sharwood said.
Two hikers, a 31-year-old man and 28-year-old woman, were trapped by the snow near Mt Kosciuszko on Saturday.
'Due to the weather, including low visibility, a helicopter was unable to reach the pair,' NSW Police said.
'Officers from the Alpine Operations Unit hiked into the location and reached the man and woman at about 10.40pm.'
The pair were taken to a staging post campsite until they were finally extracted about 4am Sunday, both uninjured.
Dozens of motorists had to be rescued across NSW and Victoria due to icy road conditions.
The biggest operation was at Mount Hotham in Victoria's High Country after 19 people became trapped in their cars during a snow storm.
Six people remained trapped in their vehicles on the Blue Rag Range Track near Dargo High Plains on Monday morning.
They were pulled from their cars later that day.
Authorities warned motorists not to underestimate the impact of snow and ice on the roads.
Wintry temperatures in Sydney this week are set to be accompanied by grey skies and showers
'Please ensure your vehicle is roadworthy and well equipped with extra supplies should you become stranded in snowy conditions, as help can often be a long way away,' NSW Police said.
'Carry chains and fit them when directed.
'It is a good idea to practice fitting chains before entering the area as trying to fit them in blizzard conditions is not a good place to be learning this activity.'
Snow could fall as low as 1,200m in Australia's southeast on Tuesday.
Sydney
Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the late afternoon. Min 9. Max 18.
Thursday: Mostly sunny morning. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then tending south to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day. Min 8. Max 16.
Friday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers. Winds southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h. Min 9. Max 16.
Melbourne
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the late morning and afternoon. Light winds. Min 6. Max 14.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Areas of frost and the chance of fog about the nearby hills in the morning. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds. Min 5. Max 13.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Areas of morning frost about the nearby hills. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds. Min 5. Max 13.
Brisbane
Wednesday: Sunny. Winds westerly 20 to 30 km/h becoming light in the evening. Min 9. Max 19.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming westerly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening. Min 8. Max 20.
Friday: Sunny. Light winds becoming westerly 15 to 25 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening. Min 9. Max 20.
Perth
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the morning. Light winds. Min 8. Max 18.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming north to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the day. Min 7. Max 19.
Friday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Winds northerly 15 to 25 km/h shifting west to southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening. Min 10. Max 21.
Adelaide
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Light winds becoming north to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the morning then turning northeasterly in the late afternoon. Min 6. Max 16.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Light winds. Min 8. Max 16.
Friday: Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning. Light winds. Min 6. Max 17.
Hobart
Wednesday: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Light winds. Min 7. Max 13.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Light winds. Min 4. Max 13.
Friday: Mostly sunny. Patches of morning frost in the east. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds. Min 3. Max 14.
Canberra
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Areas of frost and the chance of fog in the morning. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then becoming light in the late afternoon. Min -1. Max 13.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Areas of frost and the chance of fog in the morning. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds. Min -2. Max 12.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Areas of morning frost. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming southerly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the afternoon. Min -1. Max 13.
Darwin
Wednesday: Sunny. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the morning then becoming light in the early afternoon. Min 19. Max 30.
Thursday: Sunny. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the afternoon. Min 19. Max 30.
Friday: Sunny. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the afternoon. Min 19. Max 30.
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