Tradies working outdoors across southern Australia face a dangerous week. A powerful Antarctic cold front is bringing flooding rain, damaging winds and blizzard conditions from this weekend through to Wednesday.
ABC meteorologist Tom Saunders reported that the system tracked more than 4,000 km from the edge of Antarctica before reaching the southern coastline late Friday, sweeping across Western Australia overnight and into South Australia on Saturday. Bureau of Meteorology forecaster David Crock confirmed the sequence: “Behind it comes a strong cold front which will reach southwest WA later in the day before continuing across SA over the course of the weekend.”
Monday carries the biggest single hazard for site workers. Parts of Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne could see gusts exceed the 90 km/h severe weather warning threshold, while exposed sections of the southern coast and ranges are forecast to hit above 100 km/h, the kind of wind that brings down trees and knocks out power lines. Scaffolders, roofers, crane operators and anyone working at height should check site conditions before mobilising. Electrical trades should brace for outages in exposed coastal and ranges locations.
Flood watches are in place for 10 Victorian catchments, including the Eildon-to-Seymour section of the Goulburn River, issued by the Bureau of Meteorology on Friday. Catchments are already moderately wet following recent rainfall, and rivers may respond quickly. Flooding is possible from late Sunday into early next week, with some areas in Victoria and southern NSW forecast to receive 50 to 100 mm over the weekend. Parts of north-east Victoria’s high country could see 100 mm, threatening road access and site inundation across north-east Vic, Gippsland and central Victoria. Country News rural Victoria has reported that north-west Victoria is also under close monitoring.
A second front follows over WA on Monday and should reach south-east states Tuesday and Wednesday, stretching disruption across the full working week. Five-day totals are forecast to reach at least 25 mm across a wide swathe of southern Australia, with 50 mm or more possible around Adelaide. Weatherzone independently confirms the Antarctic origin and adds that blizzard conditions and destructive gusts are expected in the Alps on Sunday and Monday, with more than 50 cm of fresh snow possible above 1,800 m.
For site managers and subbies across SA, Vic and southern NSW: Sunday afternoon starts getting rough, Monday is the worst day for wind, and flooding risk runs through to at least Tuesday. Check your state’s emergency service updates before mobilising crews, and confirm that access roads into affected catchments are still open.
Frequently asked questions
Which states are affected by the cold front this week?
South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT are all in the path of the front, with Western Australia hit first over the weekend before the system pushes east.
When is the worst day for wind on site?
Monday is forecast to be the worst day, with gusts potentially exceeding 100 km/h along exposed southern coasts and ranges, and above 90 km/h in parts of Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.
Which Victorian catchments are under flood watch?
The Bureau of Meteorology issued flood watches for 10 Victorian catchments on Friday, including the Eildon-to-Seymour section of the Goulburn River. North-west Victoria is also under close monitoring.
How long will the disruption last?
A second front follows over WA on Monday and is expected to reach south-east states on Tuesday and Wednesday, meaning disruption could stretch across the full working week.
Sourced from ABC News, Bureau of Meteorology, Weatherzone, Country News (rural Victoria), Yahoo News Australia. Original article.
