Parts of Sydney experienced a dramatic temperature drop of 10 degrees on Tuesday afternoon in just 90 minutes as a “significant” cold front made its way across the state.
Between 12.30pm and 2pm, the temperature at Badgerys Creek in Sydney’s west dropped from 21.1 degrees to 10.7 degrees in the short window with nearby suburbs also experiencing flurries of hail.
A shelf cloud moves along the coast at Collaroy. Credit: Nick Moir
Hail was reported west of the city in Cabramatta, Canley Vale, Fairfield and Bass Hill, but was also seen by residents east of Sydney in Coogee and Randwick.
Weather zone meteorologist Yoska Hernandez said the drop in temperatures has come as a result of strong southerly winds hitting just as the cold front heads towards Sydney.
“Across Sydney, we’re experiencing a sharp drop in temperatures which has seen an average (of) drops of seven to nine degrees in two hours from midday,” he said.
“Along the coast we will see winds in excess of 80 km/h this afternoon and evening in some areas.”
Hernandez said the drop in temperatures will also bring snow to parts of the Blue Mountains as well as Orange, Lithgow and Bathurst on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday.
“With this sudden change in southerly wind, it has brought a very cold air mass in the wake of this cold front,” he said.