Melbourne’s see-saw summer sees bathers replaced by jumpers

Melbourne’s see-sawing summer is set to continue into the new year, as Monday’s hot conditions give way to a cold New Year’s Eve.

Thousands of swimmers were attracted to Port Phillip Bay as the city reached a top of 33 degrees on Monday, but Tuesday is set to be the last viable day for beach-goers in 2025 with a predicted top of 29 degrees.

Beach-goers Declan and Caliber, 2, enjoy some of the last hot weather on offer in 2025. Credit: Joe Armao

Temperatures will then plummet about10 degrees, with Wednesday forecast to reach a maximum of only 19 degrees in Melbourne, and record a low of 13 degrees.

The minimum temperature would be marginally higher in the CBD at the time of the midnight fireworks, at about 14 degrees, the Bureau of Meteorology’s Daniel Sherwin-Simpson said.

The Mornington Peninsula and Geelong were looking even colder on New Year’s Eve, with lows potentially down to 11 degrees at midnight, the meteorologist said.

“Generally, Melbourne is going to stay a little bit more mild in the evening,” Sherwin-Simpson said.

“That being said, though, we will be in a southerly airstream with winds probably in [the] 20km/h to 30km/h mark, so there might be a little bit of wind chill coming off the bay with that.

“For the CBD itself, we’re not expecting a hugely chilly night. But personally, if I was going over [to the city], I’d still be bringing a jumper, at least.”

Some cloud cover on New Year’s Eve was not expected to ruin the visibility of the fireworks display, and New Year’s Day was expected to be mild across the state.

The predicted top in Melbourne on Thursday was only slightly below average, at 24 degrees.

“[New Year’s Eve is] a little bit cooler than average. But today we’re well and truly hotter than average. So it’s a bit of swings and roundabouts at this time of year,” Sherwin-Simpson said.

Thousands of people flocked to Melbourne’s beaches, including St Kilda Beach, on Monday. Credit: Joe Armao

“What you got on Christmas, broadly, that’s what you’re going to be getting on New Year’s [Eve].”

Victorians in the Mallee and the state’s north could expect overnight temperatures of between 15 and 20 degrees on New Year’s Eve, the meteorologist said.

Melbourne’s varied temperatures so far this summer were sitting at about the average for the season, Sherwin-Simpson said.

More than 500,000 people are expected to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Melbourne’s CBD this year, where about 500 police officers will be deployed.

Monday was the sixth day this month on which Melbourne has surpassed 30 degrees.

The city recorded three consecutive days above 30 degrees between December 17 and 19, with December 18 the month’s hottest day at 38 degrees.

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