This is what Christmas in the USA looks like. But I understand it gets hot in the winter and cold in the summer in Australia, So I suppose your Christmas weather is like that of our 4th of July. Have a beer.

Merry Christmas.

Hi,

Depends on your definition of hot and cold, and exactly where you are in Australia.

On the mid Eastern seaboard our Summers do get hot and steamy, and our Summer started on December 1st. Our Winters are like an English Summer. So, our Winter is not real cold, though we do get the occasional day where the temp gets under 10deg Cels.

The most amusing thing about our Christmas is many people put out pretend snowmen and spray fake snow on their windows. This must be a throw back to our European ancestory, which I find amusing - to see fake snow and Winter items in 30-40deg Cels temperatures.

So, while you sit back and snuggle up and eat a nice hot roast while it snows for your Christmas, I'll be sitting by the pool sucking on an icy beer and eating freshly cooked prawns.

In any event, Merry Christmas. I hope it's a safe and loving one for you and your family.

River

Thanks for the Christmas greetings and likewise hope yours is a enjoyable one.

Summer here in the southern continent, can be 40 C plus in the inland and desert, humid and steamy along the coastal areas.

Cold meats, salads and chilled beers for many.

Cheers

Most of Australia will likely be between 25 and 35°C on Christmas Day. It's pretty much accepted that it's not likely to snow anywhere unless there's a freak weather event in an area that would normally get snow during the winter months.

In the rural and outback areas there'll be dozens of places that go over the 40°C mark which is 104°F. In the Kimberley, Pilbara and Hamersley Ranges in Western Australia the people call 50°C a hot day and generally stay inside and have air conditioners working overtime. The largest freight trains in the world run here too shifting iron ore to the coast and even the engine rooms on the locomotives are air conditioned.

In recent years, coastal areas have been fairly moderate through Christmas with heatwaves generally coming in the new year. Here in Sydney, severe thunderstorms have been a rare commodity for about ten years - they don't seem to occur as often as they did when I was a kid.

I am not sure what to make of climate change - whilst average temperatures are claimed by some to be rising, peak temperatures aren't and some peaks have stood since records started to be kept.

That said, Merry Christmas to everyone.

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A valve a day keeps the transistor away...

I grew up in Melbourne and it seems to have the most variation. It is not rare to get a hailstorm around Christmas, but you can also get 40+ degrees. Once in the early 1950s I remember we even had a brief flurry of snow on the ground in Melbourne's outer eastern suburbs on Christmas Day - virtually mid-summer. People often think I'm dreaming when I mention that.

Maven

I wouldnt mind betting it will be pushing 40 up here xmas day.
So a big feed of ham, more than a few beers and a dip in the pool will be on the cards.

We had a ripper hail storm last week. It caused a lot of damage in a short time and in a fairly narrow path.
I personally saw hail stones a bit bigger than golf balls, but some saw cricket ball sized stones


ben

It's still Christmas Eve here in the USA. Merry Christmas again.

Raining here today and 23°C. Yesterday was 38° and not a cloud in the sky for most of the day.

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A valve a day keeps the transistor away...