sydney to hobart yacht time

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Sydney to Hobart yacht race 2023 guide: history, start time, black sails, favourites, distance, tracker

It starts on a harbour, finishes on a river and in-between sailors will ride a wave of emotion. How to follow the Sydney to Hobart, its history, drama, favourites, when it starts and expert guide.

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It starts on a harbour, finishes on a river and in-between sailors will ride a wave of emotion.

The Sydney to Hobart yacht race is one of the most famous sporting events in Australia and one of the most respected ocean races internationally.

It is steeped in history, mystique and famous competitors.

It is also a revered sporting event contested by the best of the best in the world of sailing and racing and boats “one of the most spectacular starts of any sporting event in the world” according to our sailing expert Amanda Lulham

We’ve put together a guide to the famous bluewater yacht race covering everything from its history, disasters and past winners to how to follow the race and links to in-depth news and colour.

SYDNEY TO HOBART HISTORY, DRAMA, WEATHER, FAVOURITES AND MORE

How long is the Sydney to Hobart ? It’s 628 nautical miles long.

How big is the fleet in 2023 ? At the close of entry there were 120 entrants. This has since decreased to around 100 which will include international entrants, 18 two-handed boats, four supermaxis and a number of minnows.

What was the worst Sydney to Hobart storm? In 1998 six men lost their lives at sea and a massive search and rescue mission was galvanised when the fleet was smashed by an intense low which caused wild winds and monstrous seas.

MORE SYDNEY TO HOBART NEWS

OH BABY : Superstar to miss Sydney to Hobart

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SYDNEY TO HOBART : Latest news, rolling coverage

What is the history of the Sydney to Hobart? It started in 1945 as a cruise to Hobart and was contested by just nine yachts.

What is the best weather? That’s easy. Sailors love surfing. So any wind from behind or even on the side of their yacht will work. Upwind sailing is a real slog and can cause damage to boats and crew.

What happened to the Sydney to Hobart during Covid ? The race was cancelled for the first time in history in 2020 but returned a year later.

What is the Sydney to Hobart race record? The race record is well under two days which is quite extraordinary. Comanche, now racing as Andoo Comanche, set the race record of one day nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 second back in 2017 when skippered south by Jim Cooney.

Sydney to Hobart start time : 1pm on Boxing Day on Sydney Harbour off multiple start lines.

Sydney to Hobart arrival: On a finish line on the Derwent River off Battery Point. Usually around two days after the Boxing Day start for the fastest but it can also be as fast as the race record of just over one day and nine hours.

CAT WALK : Sydney to Hobart history

WHAT A FINISH: 2022 Sydney to Hobart wrap

Can anyone enter the Sydney to Hobart yacht race? Yes, but ever crew does need a certain amount of experience. Boats must also have the appropriate paper work for their rating, safety certificates, radio licences and other checks.

Sydney top Hobart prize money . There is none. There are however trophies for winners.

Sydney to Hobart favourite: The defending line honours and overall winners are back in 2023 in Andoo Comanche and Celestial.

Women in the Sydney to Hobart: Women have been racing the Sydney to Hobart since the second edition of the race when two set sail.

One made it to Hobart and there is a trophy named in her honour - the Jane Tait Trophy for the first female skipper.

What year was the worst Sydney to Hobart yacht race? 1998. That year 115 started but only 44 finished.

Why are there black sails in the Sydney to Hobart race? Many of the black sails are made of carbon filaments and glued together. This allowed for variation in strength across the sail

Some are also strong synthetics coloured black to keep the sun from rotting the sails.

Do sailors sleep Sydney to Hobart? Yes, Usually on a watch system where half are on deck and half before. Each boat has its own system but many use the four hours on, four hours off system.

Who is the favourite for the Sydney to Hobart yacht race? That would be Andoo Comanche for the line honours. Defending champion Celestial and URM are among the contenders for the overall but this is very weather dependent.

How big are the yachts? The biggest allowed is 100 foot and the smallest is 30 foot.

How do you follow the race? News Corp will be on the ground in Sydney and Hobart for extensive news and behind the scenes coverage form the first to the very last boat. There is also a tracker on the official website that can be ultilised to find the position of yachts and their projected results during the race.

What is the Sydney to Hobart race record? It was set by LDV Comanche back in 2017 and is one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds.

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Rolex Sydney Hobart Race / 630nm / 25 Dec 2024 - 2 Jan 2025

8 days / cat 1 ocean race / event #2436 / silver fern, salt lines & magic miles: crew full waitlist only.

The Rolex Sydney Hobart Race is one of the toughest and most respected Category 1 ocean races in the world. It’s the only major race that starts in a harbour, takes in a passage and finishes in a river. This will be the 79th edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race , with a fleet in excess of 100 yachts expected, ranging from 36 to 100 foot in length. The electric pre-race village atmosphere at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) followed by the excitement of the build-up to the start on Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day is hard to describe.

With thousands of spectator vessels, helicopters overhead and hundreds of thousands of people lining the Sydney waterfront and cliff tops, the race start at 1pm on Boxing Day each year is an Australian sporting tradition. We'll assemble in Sydney late on Christmas Day, start the race at 1pm on Boxing Day and arrive in Hobart in time for New Years celebrations, the Taste of Tasmania Festival and a range of great local activities and sights. It’s an absolutely unique experience from the moment to land in Sydney to the time you depart Hobart.

Crew registration

Note: to secure your place for this event, a 50% deposit is required following registration.

FIRST MATE’S DEAL - SOLD OUT SEA MASTER’S SAVER - SOLD OUT CAPTAINS CHOICE - SOLD OUT

Admiral’s advantage - crew full waitlist only shared cabin: aud$13,750 (per berth) 8 days, passage plan.

The 630nm route from Sydney to Hobart across the infamous Bass Strait.

Activities included

Click the links above to review examples from previous sailing events across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands.

HERE’S WHAT YOU WILL EXPERIENCE ONBOARD

Sailing : Hoisting, trimming and reefing both upwind (main, genoas, and jibs) and downwind sails (poled out headsails, spinnakers, gennakers and code 0’s (subject to weather).

Watch duties : Acting as watch captain (day and night), helming, navigating, checking weather and monitoring AIS and radar and for both traffic and rain squalls.

Weather : Downloading and analysing the latest weather forecasts and calculating best route to destination.

Navigation : Navigating, hazard identification, entering waypoints and calculating updated ETA’s.

Leadership : Watch roster planning, matching responsibility to experience, crew management and communication.

Safety : Familiarisation of all safety procedures, sail planning, storm preparation planning and abandon ship procedures.

Training : Use of PDF’s (Personal Flotation Devices), PLB’s (Personal Locator Beacons), safety tethers, dan buoy’s, storm drogue, liferaft and any other equipment required to ensure you remain safe in all conditions.

Personal wellbeing : Advice on how to take responsibility for managing clothing, hydration, sleep and nutrition to maintain your health and well being aboard.

Passage planning : Planning our arrival and route to safe harbour including timing with daylight (if required), weather factors, navigational hazards, communications / customs and sail/motor arrival plan.

Additional media

Check out photo gallery highlights from a previous Rolex Sydney Hobart Race.

You can fly directly into Sydney Airport on the 24th or 25th of December. Our crew will officially assemble on Christmas Day evening and you will join us for a crew welcome dinner. On the 26th of December we'll meet for breakfast early and then run through final checks and preparations. We'll familiarise you with the yacht, systems and safety equipment and get you ready for departure from the dock around 11:30am. Its a 3-5 day sail to Hobart with arrival expected on the 30-31st December. You are welcome to stay onboard in Hobart, but should also consider booking local accomodation ashore at an estimated cost of around $800- $1,200 per person for 3-4 nights.

When we arrive in Hobart, we'll do the customary sail past the crowd on Constitution Dock, before tying up at the marina and heading to the Custom House (open 24 hours) for an arrival drink or two. We'll attend a number of events in Hobart including a New Years Eve party, The Taste of Tasmania and the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race Presentation. You should plan to fly out of Hobart after midday on the 1st of January. Most of our crew will depart around the 2nd - 3rd of January, so plan to stay on and enjoy the 3-4 days in Hobart at the end of the race, as it truly is a celebration you will never forget.

Silver Fern (Photo credit: Copyright Richard Bennett)

Salt Lines (Photo credit: Copyright Richard Bennett)

The french luxury sloop Magic Miles

Your crew package includes; all meals onboard, crew meals in Sydney and in Hobart on day of arrival, accommodation onboard, your Ocean Sailing Expeditions crew shirt, an Ocean Sailing Expeditions crew jacket, marina fees, race entry fees, the use of a PFD (personal floatation device), PLB (personal locator beacon), and a safety tether. Your bedding, a pillow and towel are also included along with suncream. 

A 3 day crew training weekend on 6-8 December 2024, with accommodation and meals onboard valued at $1,495 is also included.

Your crew package excludes; accommodation ashore, flights and transport to and from departure and arrival ports, alcohol, toiletries, clothing and wet weather gear. You will need to complete a 2-day Sea Safety and Survival Training Course or equivalent at least 1 month prior.

Its always recommended that you book flights with date flexibility incase of unforeseen changes due to weather or schedules. Accommodation options if you want to stay ashore either side of trip:  AirBNB ,  Booking.com ,  Wotif  &  HomeAway .

Review sailing calendar  for all events

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Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is a huge sporting event in Australia that is held on Boxing Day each year.

Attracting some of the best sailing crews in the world, the race travels from Sydney, 630 nautical miles (1,100km) south to Tasmania.

Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 2024, Dates, Times, Course Route & Tracker

The race record is around one day, 9 hours and 15 minutes. Each boat’s time is adjusted according to its size and expected speed, adopting a handicap system. The power-to-weight ratio is the most crucial factor in speed, and most boats competing in the race are ‘sloops’ – single-mast yachts.

For visitors wanting to view the race whilst they are in Sydney , head to Sydney Harbour as the fleet sails out to the Tasman Sea before heading south down the coast and over the Bass Strait. Head over to Nielsen Park, where the cannons will signal the start of the race, usually around 1pm. For those wanting to get up close to the action, head over to Middle Head Lookout or Headland Park.

The Seven Network, through 7Mate, will once again broadcast the start of the race live around Australia. ABC TV will also follow the fleet down the eastern seaboard and provide all the in-race news footage used by the various Australian and International news networks.

Seven West Media will webcast the program for those who can’t watch the live broadcast of the start of the Race on the Seven Network across Australia. You can also watch a live webcast on the home page of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race website.

The Yacht Tracker page lets viewers track the entire fleet or a particular boat from start to finish. Yacht Tracker uses a specially designed tool that calculates the predicted results for every boat in the fleet so you can see how each boat is performing. Each yacht will be fitted with a tracker that will obtain a position using the GPS satellite network and transmit that position back to HQ.

Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race Images & Photos

Sydney to hobart yacht race, nsw current weather now & 7 day forecast, sydney to hobart yacht race information & details,  event dates,  event times,  contact details, sydney to hobart yacht race area, street & hotel map, nsw, other places we recommend.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

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Rolex Sydney Hobart Race - on the water video of the final miles, plus dockside interviews

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Best Places to Watch the Sydney to Hobart Race

Are you looking for the best place to watch the Sydney to Hobart race? I have three favourite ways to see all the action unfold that I would like to share with you, so let’s go… 

Over the years, watching the start of the Sydney to Hobart has become a Sydney holiday tradition. Thankfully, the race has a lunchtime start, so there is no need to crawl out of bed at dawn to be part of the action.

Updated: 14 December 2023

What is the Sydney to Hobart?

What time does the sydney to hobart race start, where does the race actually start, up close in the middle of the action on a harbour cruise, boxing day lunch cruise, boxing day byo picnic cruise, boxing day race to bondi cruise, from the north – mosman and middle head, from the south – the gap and south head.

This post contains affiliate links. Our full disclosure policy is here .

Every Boxing day since 1945, (other than 2020 because of Covid) Sydney Harbour has hosted the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. An arduous journey of 628 nautical miles south to Constitution Dock in Hobart. These yachts, from small vessels to super maxis, make an impressive sight as they leave the harbour and add the spectator craft, and it feels like a party out there.

The race attracts sailors with a variety of experience from weekend warriors to professionals. This year sees 120 boats registered , including 9 international boats.

Not being much of a sailor I had been content to watch it on TV for years however about 5 years ago I had a cousin visiting from Canada, and she was keen to see the race up close, so I was finally convinced to leave the comfort of the sofa and check it out. Even for a non-sailing enthusiast, it was damn impressive. I can see why it’s a favourite way to spend Boxing Day.

Some race basics

The starter’s gun will sound at 1 pm with a warning shot ten minutes earlier. However, boats will start getting into a position from much earlier, and the harbour is a pretty incredible site with all the competitors and spectator vessels filling this usually spacious waterway.

The official starting line is just off Nielsen Park, making this one of the most popular spots on the eastern shore to watch the action. Read more about how they manage the start of the race on the official Sydney to Hobart website.

Where are the best places to watch the start of the Sydney to Hobart race 

That’s a good question and one with more than one correct answer, here are my three favourites.

I don’t think you can go past watching the start of the Sydney to Hobart from the water. Being out amongst the action as the boats head down the harbour and out of the heads is fantastic. You can see the sailors working furiously to get into position for the start and see all the little boats jostle for the best spots.

Tip : It can feel a bit more choppy with all the boats moving about, so if you are partial to seasickness, it might be an idea to grab some tablets.

Lots of boats on offer with a variety of price points and luxury. Some of my favourites are:

Captain Cook Cruises

One of the premium operators on the harbour Captain Cook will have three vessels out to get amount the Boxing Day action this year.

You can choose from the 3 hour BYO picnic cruise (on board bar), the popular lunch cruise and a special cruise that will travel outside the heads to Bondi!

The MV Sydney 2000 is a great ship with a full roof deck for the best views and commentary and TV coverage inside the boat to keep up to date with all the action.

One of the main reasons I like this cruise is the amount of space on the outdoor decks and the huge picture windows that are a feature of the boat.

They also have a fantastic spot to anchor at Parsley Bay between Watsons Bay and Nielson Park, which sees them perfectly positioned to watch the vessels race to the Heads.

Seating is at individual tables, and the huge windows mean everyone can see. Window seating is available too. This year they are offering two dining options across the ship’s three decks.

• Sky Deck – which is a 5-course premium menu with a beverage package that includes house spirits, superior wines, beers & soft drinks.
• Club Deck – a 3 course menu with a beverage package of superior house wines, beers & soft drinks.
• Ocean Deck – Shared platters, reserved seating and a welcome drink included – Sold out!

All levels have access to the outdoor open star deck

The Cruise departs 10.30am Darling Harbour, King St Wharf and returns at approx 3pm.

Board the John Cadman and make your way to the eastern corner of the harbour, dropping anchor at noon near Parsley Bay to watch the fleet make their way out of the heads.

The race begins at 1pm and the ship will stay put until 2pm when it will spend the next hour on a relaxed cruise returning to the wharf at 3pm.

Got the stomach for the open seas? Follow the action and the fleet out of the heads and down to Bondi on one of the Red Rocket Catamarans.

This 2.5-hour cruise is BYO everything , including drinks. There is indoor and outdoor seating and free wifi on board.

Vagabond’s MV Spirit

3 hour Boxing Day sail will be out on the water near the starting line for the big race. Along with great views of the Sydney to Hobart race, the captain will provide live race commentary. The price includes a 3-course seafood and carvery set menu. Beverages may be purchased on board. The cruise departs from Circular Quay at 11:30am and return approx 2:30pm.

The 2021 race celebrated 75 years of women in the race with excellent representation across the fleet

A harbourside picnic is a great way to use up some of the Christmas day leftovers and relax at the same time. Depending on how energetic you feel, you could combine a bit of a bushwalk to reach your chosen picnic spot.

One of my favourites is Georges Heights Lookout at Mosman. If Christmas festivities have you worn out, you might want to make the trip by bus otherwise you can easily walk from Taronga Wharf. Parking is at a premium so leave the car behind if you can.

Where: Georges Heights lookout along the Taronga to Balmoral Beach walk When: Front row positions fill quickly I suggest being in your spot by noon. How:  M30 or 178 buses from Wynyard Wheel-friendly: not really, prams with plenty of lifting may be possible Dog-friendly : No

Related: Check out more great picnic spots here

Many suggest that the trek up to the lighthouse is THE best Sydney to Hobart view. You can watch the yachts race up the harbour and view them as they move out of the heads and along the coast.

It certainly is popular here, so pack your picnic basket and nab your position early. I would say by 10 am to be safe. If you are coming from Circular Quay ferries will stop running at about 11.40am and start again at about 1.45pm. Do not attempt to drive here. There is no parking by just after sunrise!

With three great dining options, Watson’s bay is also my favourite choice if you prefer not to pack a picnic. Choose from a fish and chip take away from the wharf, a pub lunch from the Watson’s Bay hotel or fine dining at Doyle’s on the beachfront. All will be busy and require patience 🙂

Where:   Hornby Lighthouse  When:  Early – say 10 am to allow time to grab something to eat and walk up to the lighthouse  How: Early ferry from Circular Quay (they have stopped by 11 am in previous years) or bus 324, 325 or 380  from either Circular Quay or Edgecliff stations. Parking here is terrible on a good day, so try to avoid bringing your car if you can.  Cost: Meals from $10 takeaway to $$$ at Doyles

Looking for somewhere to stay near all the action? Check out the Watson’s Bay Hotel or Hotel Bondi

Where do you think is the best place to watch the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race? Do you have any insider tips to share?

Have questions about things to see and do in Sydney? Head over and join our Facebook Group and we will be happy to help

5 thoughts on “Best Places to Watch the Sydney to Hobart Race”

Living near San Diego harbor I know how thrilling a big race can be. Love the different choices you’ve outlined and wish I were going to be there to cheer the race on.

Wow, it must be some sight to see all the yachts making their way from the start. I’d love to take part, but I know that conditions can be really hairy on the Sydney-Hobart, so watching from the clifftops might be the best place to be.

Looks like a really fun event! Have never been to Sydney but we will be there in 2016 for a few months. Will try to catch this if possible, thanks for the tips on best places to watch it from!

The Sydney to Hobart race seems amazing. When I visited Sydney earlier this year, I remember seeing all of the stunning boats. I can barely imagine how exciting this will be.

Best place I watched it from was Sydney Tower. I became the unofficial commentator to all those around me and much cheaper than going by boat

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Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race- 26 December

Avoid the Crowds

Front Row Seats!

Bucket List Experience

On Boxing Day each year, one of the world’s premier yacht races departs from Sydney bound for Hobart. Take our private VIP charter option or join a group cruise and experience the harbour amid a sea of colour, pomp and ceremony that is the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Click the Tabs to Find out More

Vip private charter - $3,375, harbour cruise - $285 per person.

Enjoy one of Sydney Harbour’s and the yachting world’s biggest days of the year in style and comfort aboard our VIP European SportsCruiser. You’ll get up close to some of the world’s most impressive maxi yachts as we line up alongside the starting grid and follow the flotilla towards the harbour entrance. Once the yachts have disappeared beyond the heads, we cruise to the picturesque and historic Quarantine Bay for lunch, a wander, and an afternoon swim. But if you have a spot in mind, your local skipper will make sure we get there during the day.

VIP Sports Cruiser – Our 11 metre, open-top cruiser brings a touch of Italian Riviera class to the stunning Sydney Harbour. This sleek powerboat comfortably seats 10 (plus a skipper) and is equipped with ample shade covering, downstairs bedroom, kitchenette and toilet facilities, generous food and drink storage and plenty of space for lounging in the sun and moving about the boat. Find out more about your boat here (opens in a new tab) .

11:30 am from Convention Wharf, Darling Harbour.

Maximum Group Size

Lunch and drinks.

Bring your own picnic and drinks (alcohol permitted) or we can stop at one of many harbourside restaurants.

Price includes

Watch the start of the world-famous Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race and follow the flotilla of impressive maxi yachts out towards the heads. We’ll take a short tour of some of the key sights of Sydney Harbour, and head to picturesque and historic Quarantine Bay for lunch, a wander, and an afternoon swim. Your ticket includes a cafe lunch and soft drink at a waterside bar/cafe but you’re welcome to bring other snacks and drinks aboard.

Harbour Explorer – a comfortable open-top boat that seats 16 guests and can drop you right onto the beach. It’s 8.5m with an enclosed toilet and some shading. Find out more about your boat here (opens in a new tab) .

  11:30 am from Convention Wharf, Darling Harbour.

Boat capacity

  16 – single bookings welcome.

Lunch and drinks

  A simple cafe lunch and soft drink are included, but you’re welcome to bring your own snacks and drinks.

Not Quite the Tour for You? Have a Look at Some of Our Other Options!

New years eve – 31 december, australia day – 26 january.

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2024

The Yachts - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

Australia's weather heading off the rails — cold, snowy change followed by possible record 'blocking high'

Australia's typical settled winter weather will head off the rails during the next week.

Firstly, polar air from Antarctica is surging towards south-east Australia and will bring gusty winds, showers and low-level snow this weekend.

While midwinter cold outbreaks are typical, the subsequent weather through the coming week is nothing short of bizarre.

A strong high-pressure system is forecast to stall near Tasmania by Monday, a very unusual position for July, which will reverse the direction of prevailing winter winds and result in another extended spell of wet days along the east coast, prolonged icy weather across the interior and south, and possibly culminate in a major inland rain event towards next weekend.

The blocking high is looking so dominant it may even challenge Australia's all-time air pressure record.

Antarctic winds and snow close to Hobart, Melbourne

During the past 48 hours, a cold air mass originating over Antarctic waters has surged north and is now making landfall on Australia's southern coastline.

The intrusion of polar air into the mid-latitudes has generated a powerful cold front on its leading edge, whose passage over South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania will bring showers, gusty winds and alpine snow through Saturday.

The front is the strongest so far this winter and should bring a welcome 5–20mm of rain to drought-affected parts of southern SA and south-west Victoria, while dumping up to 20cm of snow on ski resorts.

Strong winds will also accompany the system, and warnings are current for damaging gusts along pockets of the ranges.

The rainband and front will then sweep north through western and southern NSW late on Saturday, before reaching northern NSW and southern Queensland on Sunday.

After milder weather during the past few days, the front's arrival will cause temperatures to drop, including maximums of 12C in Adelaide and Melbourne on Saturday, then on Sunday just 9C in Hobart and Canberra, and 15C in Sydney.

The post-frontal Antarctic winds will also lower the snow level — falling on Sunday to around 1,000 metres in Victoria and 700 metres in Tasmania, although the dryness of the polar air will limit snowfalls to only a dusting in most non-alpine regions.

Around Hobart, snow will blanket Mount Wellington and the odd flake may also settle on the higher hills on the city's outskirts.

The closest snow to Melbourne this weekend will fall around Mount Donna Buang, just north of Warburton.

Stalling high and week of rain for NSW, QLD coast

The front will clear off the east coast by Monday. However, behind it, a strong high-pressure system is predicted to stall near Tasmania, leading to another week where our weather grinds to a halt.

The high's southern position is abnormal for July, when high-pressure systems normally migrate to central Australia, leading to a reversal of the wind direction from a westerly to a south-easterly across southern states.

The prolonged spell of south-easterly winds will produce a string of wet days for the east coast as showers are driven in off the Coral and Tasman seas — a near-exact replica of the pattern in May when a blocking high brought 13 consecutive days of rain to Sydney.

Modelling is indicating the heaviest falls should impact the NSW north coast, where up to around 100mm is possible by next weekend, although, spread over a week, the rain is unlikely to trigger flooding.

Sydney could potentially see close to 100mm and Brisbane 50mm, nearly a month's worth of rain, continuing the 2024 trend where our east coast capitals' rainfall has far exceeded the southern states.

Sydney's rainfall in 2024 is the stand-out, already surpassing the annual average and exceeding the combined total from Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Perth and Hobart.

Initially, this week's rain will mostly impact the east coast, however, modelling is also hinting of a major inland rain event towards next weekend as the easterly winds ultimately spread moisture into the interior.

The event could produce a season's worth of rain in just a few days across the outback, although it's too far ahead for a precise forecast.

Frosty week to bring Melbourne's coldest night in two years

Away from the east coast, the blocking high will lead to a string of chilly days and icy nights as the cold post-frontal air becomes trapped.

Adelaide is predicted by the Bureau of Meteorology to have both minimums and maximums below average until at least Thursday, while Melbourne shivers down to a frosty 1C on Wednesday morning, the city's coldest temperature in two years.

Subzero temperatures are even possible as far north as Alice Springs, where temperatures should drop from a high of 30C on Saturday to a minimum of -1C on Wednesday morning.

For alpine areas, the week will provide ample opportunity for snowmaking, however further natural falls (after this weekend) are unlikely into the foreseeable future.

High could break all-time pressure record

Blocking highs are common through autumn and early winter but become rare by July, when stronger jet streams keep weather patterns mobile.

This particular high is also abnormal due to its strength — at its peak, a central pressure predicted to exceed 1040 hectopascals.

The current all-time air pressure record in Australia is 1044hPa, observed at Launceston Airport on June 7, 1967, a figure which could be challenged if the high's centre drifts directly over Tasmania.

So how will the high pressure be felt on the ground?

Apart from lower-than-normal sea levels, the majority of humans can not detect changes in atmospheric pressure unless they ascend high into the atmosphere, however, many studies have linked changing pressure to the severity of some medical conditions like arthritis and headaches.

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