Australia

The NSW Rural Fire Service announced this week that nine Local Government Areas will commence their bushfire season early this year, following a run of warm and dry weather during winter.

The current natural snow depth in the alps may be the best we see for the 2017 season.

Frequent snowfalls, two recent dumps and a surprising lack of warm rainy days have seen the natural snow depth in the alps climb fairly steadily during the past seven weeks.

Adelaide is having a wet final month of winter after a near-record dry start to the season.

Frequent fronts and low pressure systems brought more than a month's worth of rain to Adelaide in the last three weeks, with another 12mm falling in the city during the last 24 hours.

A wintry blast brought the strongest wind gusts in years and low level snow to parts of eastern and southeast Australia on Friday.

The latest climate forecast from Australia's public forecaster may not be the best news for those New Zealanders expecting a sudden dry change - but it may still work out to be friendly to some.

We have warm sub-tropical nor’westers returning to parts of the country today and Thursday and mild still on Friday. The air flow initially is coming from around Queensland and New Caledonia and will really help lift temperatures in eastern areas.

Southwestern districts of WA have once again been lashed by severe weather during the last 24 hours.

A strong cold front crossing the region has brought damaging winds, showers and thunderstorms.

Despite the talk of unseasonable warmth, nights and mornings will be a bit on the chilly side this weekend with some frost likely west of the ranges.

A high pressure system moving in quickly behind a dry cold front will lead to the chilly nights and mornings under mostly clear skies.

With the 47th Annual Sydney City2Surf only a few days away, here is what you need to know about race day. 

It will be a cool start for those travelling to the start line, with temperatures likely to be less than five degrees in most Western Sydney suburbs. In the city, it will be a bit warmer, around 10 degrees.

Unseasonably hot weather will affect Queensland and New South Wales next week. A stubborn high pressure system is about take up residence over eastern Australia and it's going send the warmest air so far this season across both states next week.