Australia

A cold front leading to a cold morning over parts of southeastern Australia is set to deliver snowfalls over the alps.

However, the system appears to have weakened significantly, leading to less snow than originally anticipated. 

More winter showers are forecast for parts of southern Australia over the weekend, in addition to the already cold temperatures expected.

A low pressure system with its associated cold front and trough are moving over the southern parts of Australia this weekend, resulting in light showers stretching from Western Australia down towards Tasmania.

Heavy rain will develop in parts of central Australia this weekend, bringing a risk of flash and riverine flooding from Sunday.

An upper trough will combine with a feed of tropical moisture to generate heavy rain on Sunday and Monday. 

The impending rain is highly unusual for this time of year. 

Australia's alps have been transformed by the first decent snowfall of winter this week.

Snow has been falling in the alps since Monday, originally confined to the higher peaks and then lowering further down the mountains on Wednesday. 

The snowiest week so far this season has begun in the alps.

Cold air and moisture have teamed up to cause snow in the alps of NSW and Victoria during the last 24 hours. The flakes were still falling today and there is plenty more on the way during the rest of this week.

New Zealand is wet at the moment with most people wanting drier than average weather this month - unfortunately the stream of low pressure about to move in will keep the wet weather coming.

On Wednesday a large high well north of New Zealand and another one well south of us will briefly connect over the nation to bring a fairly calm, settled day.

Adelaide has had its second-driest June on record, with less than 10 millimetres of rain falling in the last 30 days.

The city's rain gauge recorded only 8.6mm, the lowest total since 1958 when the city had just 6mm.

A wintry blast will bring rain, hail, blustery winds and low level snow to Tasmania on Thursday.

Winter has finally arrived in Tasmania this week after dry and record-breaking warm start to June in Hobart.

Tasmania has been noticeably warmer and drier than usual so far this season thanks to a lack of significant cold fronts in recent weeks.

Virtually all of New South Wales and Southern Queensland experienced a very mild morning up to nine degrees above average yesterday.