If you’ve stepped outside this week wearing anything less than a woollen coat and three layers underneath it, you would have immediately regretted it. That's because, across large parts of Australia, temperatures have plunged well below average for autumn, bringing icy mornings, frosts, strong winds and even snow in some regions.
While cold snaps aren’t unusual in Australia, meteorologists say this one has arrived earlier and more intensely than expected for this time of year.
Everything you need to know about the cold weather, including what's causing it and how long it is expected to last, below.
Why is Australia suddenly so cold?
Per the ABC, the Bureau of Meteorology have put the cold snap down to a cold air mass moving up from the Southern Ocean between Australia and Antarctica. That air has travelled across extremely cold sea surface temperatures before reaching the mainland, causing temperatures to drop sharply across southern and inland parts of the country.
How cold is it, actually?
The biggest difference has been overnight temperatures. While daytime highs in most cities are still relatively manageable (in the mid teens), mornings have become significantly colder, with inland regions in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria dipping close to, or below, freezing.
Perhaps mot significantly, alpine regions across Victoria, Tasmania and the Snowy Mountains have already seen early-season snowfall.
It’s also the combination of dry air and wind that’s making conditions feel especially biting. Without cloud cover to trap warmth overnight, temperatures are dropping faster after sunset, creating frosty mornings and icy starts to the day.
Is this a sign winter will be colder than usual?
Not necessarily. Despite the current conditions, forecasters say Australia’s overall winter outlook is still expected to be warmer than average.
Experts note that one cold front or early snowfall event isn’t a reliable predictor of the months ahead. Autumn weather systems are often unpredictable because the country is shifting between summer and winter conditions. That means dramatic temperature swings can happen even if seasonal averages remain relatively mild.
How long will the cold weather last?
If you're shivering reading this, don't stress. The most intense part of the cold snap is expected to ease over the coming days, with temperatures gradually climbing again in many parts of the country.
However, cold mornings are likely to linger, particularly in inland areas where clear skies and dry conditions continue to create frost overnight. Alpine regions are also expected to remain windy and icy, with some areas forecast to experience blizzard-like conditions (yes, really).
Feature image from 'Gilmore Girls'
