<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia's first day of summer kicks off with one side of the country sweltering and another shivering, with extreme weather ushering in a change of seasons.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Today Perth is heading for a maximum temperature of 37 degrees, putting the city's hottest December 1 record of 37.4 degrees recorded in 1979 within sight.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In stark contrast, the mercury in Melbourne is forecast to climb to only 16 degrees, but that could turn out to be even cooler, with a chance the city's record summer low from 1987 of 15.5 degrees being broken.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-long-range-summer-weather-forecast-every-state-and-territory/9141fda6-9e8a-42df-8145-882d05dab06d" rel="" target="_blank" title="Fire warnings issued as Australia braces for sweltering summer"><strong><span>Fire warnings issued as Australia braces for sweltering summer</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two powerful but contrasting weather patterns are behind this bizarre start of summer, reports weather channel </span><em><span>Weatherzone</span></em><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Over in Western Australia, an often-seen trough is moving down the coast, pulling hot air from the state's interior to Perth and south-west regions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The north-west of the WA is also forecast for scorching conditions over the next two day.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/australia-weather-update-summer-starts-with-east-and-west-split/5c37f81b-8e42-44bb-95d8-b9b2c5c9517e" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe heatwave warning for the Kimberley region.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meanwhile, following an unusually chilly late spring, the wintry conditions in south-eastern Australia are forecast to linger into early summer.</span></div></div><div class="tweet" data-tweet-id="1995223712241520780?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" data-user="9NewsAUS"></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The frigid weather in the Victorian Alps and Tasmanian Highlands has brought steady snowfalls, and they're likely to continue today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Melbourne residents will be keeping their winter woollies handy, with thick cloud and showers, making it feel more like winter's first day than the opening of summer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Looking ahead, Perth can expect some relief from the heat when the mercury falls to a maximum of 28 degrees tomorrow.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>For Melbourne, warmer conditions should arrive by Wednesday, with a top of 27 degrees expected.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><em><strong><span>Apple App Store</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1"><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>.</span></strong></em><span> </span></div></div>