Perfect beach heat, comfortable barbeque sunshine or torrential rain: What will the weather be for Christmas near you as most Australians enjoy covid normality with family
Australians will be rewarded for a tough year all but wiping out coronavirus with largely great weather to celebrate Christmas.
Sunshine and mild temperatures are forecast for most state capitals as families look forward to some semblance of normal around the table together.
Families in Perth and Adelaide will flock to the beach to take advantage of the maximums in the high 20s to mid-30s.
Those along Australia's east coast can expect cooler temperatures and possible showers before temperatures warm up again.
The chance of a shower or two won't dampen Christmas Day celebrations in Sydney. Pictured are Sydneysiders celebrating Christmas 2019 at Bondi
Conditions will be much cooler along Australia's east coast (shaded in green and yellow) on Christmas Day than other parts of Australia
More rain and storms are on the way for northern NSW and parts of Queensland on top of the recent battering to those regions.
'Temperatures along the east coast will be below average for this time of the year,' Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Jonathan How told Daily Mail Australia.
'The cloud cover is moving down from the tropics, which which cool down the temperatures. But it won't be too wet with not too much rain.'
A coronavirus outbreak on Sydney's northern beaches may determine whether families celebrate the festive season outdoors or at home.
Sydney will reach a top of 27C on Christmas Eve while cooler conditions on Friday won't be enough keep crowds away from Bondi if coronavirus restrictions aren't tightened.
A shower or two is forecast for both Christmas Day and Boxing Day at 25C and 26C respectively.
'We're not expecting a huge amount of rain, so it won't dampen Christmas celebrations,' Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Helen Reid told Daily Mail Australia.
'Temperatures will be close to the December average of 27C.'
The weather will start warming up again with 29C forecast for Sunday.
Melbourne can expect a cool start to Christmas with maximum temperatures in the low 20s with possible showers forecast on Christmas Eve
Elsewhere across NSW, more showers and thunderstorms are forecast for the state's mid north coast and northeast later in the week.
Melbourne's weather will improve in time for the start of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG
It will be an overcast and cloudy Christmas in the nation's capital with Canberra forecast to reach a top of 27C on Christmas Eve, 24C on Christmas Day and 25C on Boxing Day.
Melburnians should expect a cool start to the Christmas holiday with a top of 20C and possible showers on Thursday.
Conditions will remain cool on Christmas Day before the temperature climbs to 28C in Saturday in time for the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India at the MCG in front of 30,000 fans.
Adelaide is in for a warm and sunny Christmas with a top of 27C on Christmas Eve, and 29C on Christmas Day before soaring to 34C on Boxing Day.
It will be a scorching start to the festive holidays in Perth with no rain in sight until at least next week
A top of 37C is forecast for on Christmas Eve before the mercury drops slightly to 32C on Friday and 29C on Boxing Day
Monsoonal conditions will continue further north in the state.
Families in Adelaide will flock to the beach to soak up the Christmas sunshine. Pictured are residents cooling off at the Port Noarlunga Jetty south of Adelaide
Bondi Beach could be to be packed with holidaymakers on Christmas Day, despite the cooler conditions and threat of rain
Tasmania will be the coolest of all the states and territories this Christmas.
A top of 17C is forecast for Hobart on Thursday with a 30 per cent chance of rain.
The overnight temperature will drop to a chilly 9C before warming up to a top of 19C on Christmas and 24C on Boxing Day.
After a warm start to the week of 30C plus temperature, Brisbane can expect cooler conditions with a top of 27C on Thursday and 26C forecast for Christmas Day, along with a shower of two.
Possible showers are also forecast on Boxing day with a top of 27C.
Thunderstorms in other parts of Queensland could burden areas with already saturated river systems, making flooding a concern.
Darwin will see typical tropical weather with daily maximum temperatures of 32C and thunderstorms expected.
Across the rest of the territory, residents will likely see widespread heavy rainfall and flooding up to Christmas.
YOUR CHRISTMAS FORECAST
SYDNEY
Thursday: Min 18 Max 27 Possible shower
Friday: Min 19 Max 25 Shower or two
Saturday: Min 18 Max 26 Possible shower
BRISBANE
Thursday: Min 21 Max 27 Cloudy
Friday: Min 21 Max 26 Shower or two
Saturday: Min 20 max 27 Possible shower
ADELAIDE
Thursday: Min 13 Max 20 Cloud clearing
Friday:Min 13 Max 29 Sunny
Saturday: Min 15 Max 34 Sunny
CANBERRA
Thursday: Min 13 Max 27 Partly cloudy
Friday: Min 13 Max 24 Partly cloudy
Saturday: Min 12 Max 25 Partly cloudy
MELBOURNE
Thursday: Min 13 Max 20 Possible shower
Friday: Min 12 Max 21 Partly cloudy
Saturday: Min 11 Max 28 Mostly sunny
PERTH
Thursday: Min 22 Max 37 Sunny
Friday: Min 20 Max 32 Sunny
Saturday: Min 17 Max 29 Mostly sunny
HOBART
Thursday: Min 11 Max 17 Cloudy
Friday: Min 9 Max 19 Partly cloudy
Saturday: Min 10 Max 24 Partly cloudy
DARWIN
Thursday: Min 25 Max 32 Shower or two. Possible storm.
Friday: Min 25 Max 32 Shower or two. Possible storm.
Saturday: Min 25 Max 32 Shower or two. Possible storm.
Source: Bureau of Meteorology