Weather forecast Australia: Fire warning for WA, wind and rain in the southeast

The southern hemisphere's spring equinox occurred overnight, meaning days will now be longer than nights in Australia for the next six months.

A cold front and troughs extending from northern WA, through the NT and Queensland and into northeastern NSW are triggering showers and storms.

A low and front are bringing showers, gusty winds and some alpine snow to Tasmania, Victoria and southeastern South Australia.

A broad high is keeping elsewhere dry.

Here's the weather across Australia on Wednesday, September 23, 2020.

THE NATIONAL FORECAST

NSW and ACT

Mostly sunny, cool-to-mild in the east. Windy/snow on the Alps. Showers increasing, cool-to-cold in the southwest. Mostly sunny, cool-to-mild in the northwest.

Sydney will be sunny, with a low of 13 and top of 24.

Canberra has a possible shower, with a low of 5 and top of 15.

There's a strong wind warning for Macquarie Coast, Hunter Coast, Illawarra Coast, Batemans Coast and Eden Coast.

Victoria

Windy with showers, cold in the southwest. Late shower, cool-to-cold in the southeast. Showers increasing, cool-to-cold in the north. Snow on the Alps.

Melbourne is rainy today, with a low of 10 and top of 15.

There's a gale warning for East Gippsland Coast, and a strong wind warning for Port Phillip, Western Port, West Coast, Central Coast and Central Gippsland Coast.

South Australia

Isolated showers, cold-to-very cold in the southeast and central. Clearing shower, cool-to-mild in the west. Mostly sunny, cool-to-mild in north.

Adelaide is rainy today, with a low of 10 and top of 16.

There's a warning to sheep graziers for Mount Lofty Ranges, West Coast, Lower Eyre Peninsula, Eastern Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, Flinders, Mid North, Riverland, Murraylands, Upper South East, Lower South East, North West Pastoral and North East Pastoral forecast districts.

Wery cold conditions, showers, small hail and fresh to strong west to southwesterly winds are expected during Thursday evening and Friday. There is a risk of losses of lambs and sheep exposed to these conditions.

Tasmania

Showers/storms, cold in the south. Clearing shower, cool-to-cold in the northwest. Showers/storms, cold in the northeast.

Hobart is rainy today, with a low of 9 and top of 16.

There's a strong wind warning for Derwent Estuary, Frederick Henry Bay and Norfolk Bay, Storm Bay, Channel, Central Plateau Lakes, Far North West Coast, Central North Coast, Banks Strait and Franklin Sound, East of Flinders Island, Upper East Coast, Lower East Coast, South East Coast, South West Coast and Central West Coast.

Northern Territory

Mostly sunny, very warm in the north. Clearing showers, warm over the interior. Sunny, mild-to-warm in the south.

Darwin will be mostly sunny, with temperatures between 25 and 34.

Queensland

Mostly sunny, mild-to-warm in the east. Showers easing, warm in the northwest. Sunny, cool-to-cold in the southwest.

Brisbane will be mostly sunny, with a low of 20 and top of 31.

There's a minor flood warning for the Thomson and Barcoo rivers tomorrow — more details here.

Western Australia

Sunny, mild-to-warm in the southwest. Mostly sunny, cool-to-cold in the south. Mostly sunny, warm in the northwest. Late shower, very warm in the northeast.

Perth will be sunny, with a low of 8 and top of 26.

There's a fire weather warning for Gascoyne and Exmouth Gulf Coast fire weather districts, with fresh and gusty east to northeasterly winds combined with hot and dry conditions expected through the northwest Gascoyne and far western Pilbara today. Winds easing and shifting northerly during the afternoon and west-northwesterly in the evening.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services advises you to:

• Action your Bushfire Survival Plan now.
• Monitor the fire and weather situation through your local radio station, www.dfes.wa.gov.au and www.bom.gov.au.
• Call 000 (Triple Zero) in an emergency.

– With Weatherzone