Overview
- Snow fell above about 700 metres in Tasmania on Christmas Day, with kunanyi/Mount Wellington dropping to −1.4°C and the Bureau of Meteorology warning of hazardous conditions for highland bushwalkers.
- City of Hobart webcams and local reports showed a clear dusting on Mount Wellington and parts of the Central Highlands, including Miena.
- BOM climatologists noted Christmas Day snow in Australia is uncommon, with the last measurable event identified in 2006.
- Western Australia sweltered to 42.1°C in Perth and 44°C in Geraldton, with BOM confirming December records at Cape Leeuwin (39.6°C) and Windy Harbour (38°C), and multiple WA towns ranking among the hottest on Earth that day.
- A cold front is now sweeping across WA, bringing a sharp cool down, showers, a risk of thunderstorms and damaging winds, and a return to mid‑20s temperatures into Boxing Day.