BoM meteorologist says Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and New South Wales will be generally dry and adds ‘fingers crossed it stays like this’

Christmas Day should be calm and settled across much of Australia - on the weather front at least - according to the weather bureau’s first look at the festive forecast.

Senior meteorologist Sarah Scully, from the Bureau of Meteorology, said a band of high pressure on Christmas Day would bring generally dry and settled conditions to southeastern Australia, mild temperatures for west and southwest Western Australia, and typically hot and stormy weather in the north.

Sydney – Min 18C, Max 28. Cloud clearing. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day.

Melbourne – Min 14C, Max 28. Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day.

Adelaide – Min 16C, Max 35. Sunny. Winds easterly 15 to 20 km/h tending northwest to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning.

Hobart – Min 13C, Max 23. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds westerly 15 to 20 km/h shifting southeasterly during the day.

Canberra – Min 9C, Max 33. Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming north to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day.

Darwin – Min 26C, Max 34. Possible shower or storm.

Brisbane – Min 20C, Max 29. Light winds becoming east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning.

Perth – Min 15C, Max 25. Cloud increasing.