North-south weather split to bring 30-degree temperature difference

Australia is heading for a powerful split in weather conditions over the weekend, with parts of the country cranking up air conditioners and others dusting off the winter woolies.

The blanket of intense heat currently smothering north-west Western Australia and northern Queensland shows no sign of easing over the weekend.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe heatwave warning for a large area of Queensland’s north, including the Gulf Country, North Tropical Coast and the Whitsunday islands.

The mercury is forecast to nudge 40 degrees in some inland parts, while top overnight temperatures in the mid-20s will give plenty of people a restless night.

It’s a similar story over in north-western part of Western Australia, with the bureau warning residents in the Kimberley they’re experiencing an extreme heatwave.

Among the communities impacted is the small town of Fitzroy Crossing, with its residents expected to swelter in a maximum temperature of 44 degrees on Saturday and Sunday.

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Senior meteorologist Christie Johnson, from the bureau, told nine.com.au the north-west split was a typical case of spring rollercoaster weather.

The contrasting conditions were being driven by heat over inland WA combined with warm sea surface temperatures in the surrounding ocean, while cooler polar air was moving from the far south.

“That’s basically what is happening this weekend. So we’ve still got the heat over the north and the heatwave warnings continuing over north-western WA, the Northern Territory and north Queensland,” she said.

“But we’ve got very cool weather moving up from the south, bringing cold weather from Antarctica.”

Big chill coming for south

In complete contrast, southern states will have their run of pleasant spring weather interrupted by a polar blast.

For residents in Melbourne, Sydney and Hobart, it looks like a case of pulling out the winter jackets from the wardrobe from early Saturday.

While much of south-eastern Australia has basked in clear blue skies and pleasant temperatures, a cold front is sliding across Tasmania and push cooler air into southern Victoria by late Friday.

There will even be snow down to 800 metres in the Alpine regions, with the mercury struggling to surpass freezing.

Residents of Hobart will be the first to feel the brunt of the polar blast, waking to a maximum temperature of 11 degrees on Saturday, a drop of five degrees compared with Friday.

Melbourne won’t be far behind, with the mercury only reaching a peak of 14 degrees on Saturday.

Elsewhere in Victoria and the ACT, there will be potentially damaging south-west winds and hail.

Sydney will bask in 30 degree temperatures on Saturday until a southerly buster rolls through and spoils the show.

Forecasters are warning there is a high chance of thunderstorms developing.

The east coast weather phenomenon will force the mercury down by 10 degrees within just a few hours, making for a chilly Sunday in Sydney with a maximum of just 16 degrees.

The bureau has issued marine wind warnings for an area stretching from the Eden to Hunter coasts over the weekend.

The good news is the abrupt weather change will be short-lived.

The southern capital cities are forecast to return to average seasonal temperatures by Monday.