Christmas Day is shaping up as a classic summer celebration across the New England region, with mostly sunny skies, warm temperatures and only a slight chance of showers forecast for Thursday.
While parts of the country are bracing for wildly different festive conditions — from sweltering heat in Queensland to winter woollies in the south — the New England looks set to land firmly in the hot but “BBQ-friendly” category.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Tenterfield can expect a mostly sunny Christmas Day, with a minimum of 15 degrees and a maximum of 31 degrees. There is only a very slight chance of rainfall, with totals predicted between 0 and 1 millimetre.
In Armidale, conditions will also be mostly sunny, with temperatures ranging from a cool overnight low of 12 degrees to a comfortable maximum of 29 degrees. As with Tenterfield, only minimal rainfall is forecast.
Further north-west, Tamworth is tipped to be warmer, with a sunny day ahead and temperatures climbing from a minimum of 15 degrees to a maximum of 33 degrees. No rain is forecast, making it ideal weather for outdoor celebrations.
Across the broader region, warmer conditions are expected in centres such as Moree, where temperatures are forecast to reach around 35 degrees, and Narrabri, which could see highs of up to 36 degrees under sunny skies. No rainfall is predicted for either centre on Christmas Day.
The relatively settled conditions across New England come as Australia experiences a mixed bag of festive weather. The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast Perth and Brisbane to swelter, while Melbourne and Hobart could shiver through one of their coolest Christmas Days in years.
Senior meteorologist Jonathan How said the contrast was due to a high-pressure system sitting over the Great Australian Bight, a pattern not unusual for this time of year.
“It just comes down to timing,” Mr How said, noting the coolest day of the week would coincide with Christmas for southern states, while inland NSW remains warm.
While Christmas Day itself is expected to be calm, residents are still urged to stay aware of fire conditions across the state. Heatwave conditions have persisted in parts of eastern and north-eastern NSW in recent days, and total fire bans have been declared in several districts earlier in the week.
For New England families planning outdoor lunches, backyard cricket or road trips, the message is clear: pack the sunscreen, stay hydrated, and keep an eye on conditions — but leave the umbrella at home.
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