After a blistering weekend, the mercury fell to more autumnal themes Monday as a southerly change met a strong high pressure ridge over the coast bringing cool and grey conditions to much of the coast.
The Upper Hunter was in for showers Tuesday, with a slight chance of rain elsewhere in the region, and a possible thunderstorm in the afternoon under a light southeasterly breeze.
Daytime maximums reached only into the mid-20s Monday, peaking at around 30 degrees Tuesday, after a scorching weekend in the mid- to high-30s about the Hunter.
Overnight temperatures fell at the beginning of the week as grey conditions became the prevailing theme Monday, and were expected to continue into the week as the chance of rain inched toward certainty on Thursday and Friday.
Amid the breakdown in weather patterns, Surfest organisers blown out under 40-kilometre winds Monday ultimately called off the first day of men's and women's World Surf League qualifying rounds at Merewether.
The main contests are expected to start again Tuesday morning.
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