Weather News

A bit late to be this cold

Brett Dutschke, Sunday September 16, 2018 - 11:58 AEST

A strong front has left very cold and dry air in its wake, leaving many areas in southern Australia unusually frosty.

Frost formed in all of the southern states and was severe in some areas, temperatures dipping five-to-10 degrees below average.

Eucla on the Nullarbor had its coldest morning this late in the year in 60 years, dipping to 1.1 degrees. Victoria's Longerenong and Walpeup had their coldest morning this late in the year in more than 50 years of records, recording a minimum of -3.8 and -0.8 degrees respectively.

It was the coldest this late in the year in 36 years in South Australia's Clare (-1.4 degrees), 24 years in Victoria's Hunters Hill (-2.6 degrees), more than 20 years in Western Australia's Newdegate (-2.9 degrees) and 19 years at New South Wales' Mt Boyce (-1.1 degrees).

It got even colder on the Alps, -7.6 degrees at Falls Creek (a 12-year low for this late in the year), -8.0 at Mt Hotham (11-year low for this late in the year) and -8.6 degrees at the top of Thredbo.

Not only was this recent front strong for this late in the year, its effects had not been felt in several years in some places, including during the last few winters.

Eucla's 1.1 degrees was its coldest in six years. In Victoria, it was the coldest morning in four years at Walpeup, three years at Longerenong and Hunters Hills and two years at Mt William (-2.6 degrees), Ben Nevis (-1.0 degrees) and Ferny Creek (0.9 degrees).

The later it gets in the year the more problematic frost becomes, potentially causing serious damage to winter crops which are reaching their maturing stage.

Today has potential to be the coldest day this late in the year in a few decades in parts of Tasmania, Victoria and NSW with temperatures only staying five-to-10 degrees below average during the day.

Looking ahead, much of southern Australia will not become so cold during the next few mornings due to increasing cloud and wind.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2018

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