Weather News

Bitter winds and snow remind Adelaide it's winter

At 3pm this afternoon Adelaide had chilled to just seven degrees and it's been cold enough to snow in the Hills. This comes only a day after reaching 21 degrees, just reminding us it's still winter.

Snow has been reported in several towns in the Hills, including Mt Barker (350 metres above sea level) and One Tree Hill (250 metres above sea level).

Snow doesn't fall in the Hills every winter and is a once-in-a-generation type of event this close to sea level.

Seven degrees at 3pm is the coldest it has been in the city at this time of the day since May 2000. The wind chill made it feel more like three degrees.

Wind has been gusting 60-to-80km/h, reaching 90km/h at Adelaide airport and Elizabeth and 98km/h in the Hills, strong enough to bring down trees and powerlines.

The last time Elizabeth had a windier day was in September 2010, when gusts reached 95km/h.

Elsewhere in the state wind has gusted as strong as 100km/h at Port Lincoln, its strongest in seven years. On Yorke Peninsula and in the Mid North, gusts of 92km/h were recorded at Minlaton and Snowtown.

An intense low has sent a vigorous cold front across the state to bring this wintry burst.

The wind would have made it very unpleasant for Olympians and spectators had the parade gone ahead.

The city had only reached 12.4 degrees, making it colder than any August day last year.

This is a big change from yesterday's spring-like warmth, when northerly winds drew warm air from central Australia.

Yesterday was the city's warmest day since autumn, reaching 21 degrees, five above average.

Tomorrow will be an improvement, a bit warmer and not so windy and dry nearly all day.

The city is heading for a top of about 14 degrees and wind is only likely to reach 30-to-40km/h and gust about 50km/h.

Looking to the weekend, a bit of a mix. Showers are a chance on Saturday but are not so likely on Sunday. Maximum temperatures will be 15-or-16 degrees on both days with not much wind.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2012

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Strong winds batter TAS

12:01 EST Damaging westerly winds and showers have battered southern and western parts of TAS this weekend as a series of cold fronts crossed the state.