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Wintry chill grips six states and territories

Ben Domensino, Thursday April 27, 2017 - 11:45 AEST

Parts of eastern and southeast Australia experienced their coldest temperatures in at least six months this morning.

A pool of cold air left in the wake of a strong front combined with clear skies and light to moderate winds last night, allowing temperatures to plummet across six states and territories.

Those sleeping without an extra blanket were reminded that winter is fast approaching.

This morning was the coldest in six to seven months for South Australia's Oodnadatta (7C) and Coober Pedy (8C) and Tasmania's Launceston (1C) and Hobart (3C). Impressively, the temperature at Tunnack in Tasmania's Midlands dropped to -3.8 degrees at 7am, which is colder than any morning last winter.

The Victorian alps had a dusting of snow on the ground as the sun rose this morning, following yesterday's wintry blast. The temperature at Mount Hotham was minus five degrees shortly before 9pm yesterday, which is the coldest so far this year and the coldest for April in five years. Snow also peppered Mount William in the Grampian Ranges on Wednesday afternoon.

Further south, Mount Gellibrand hit a low of five degrees this morning, which was its coldest April minimum in eight years. Melbourne's eight degrees shortly before 7am today was the city's lowest temperature in six months.

Temperatures in New South Wales were as much as seven below the monthly average this morning, with both Cabramurra (-3C) and Khancoban (0C) experiencing their coldest start since last winter.

The surge of chilly air pushed far enough north to send shivers through the Northern Rivers overnight, where Ballina (9.5C) and Yamba (11C) both had their coldest start since October and the coldest for April in seven years.

Sydney's low of 12 degrees this morning was three below average, although it was colder earlier this month.

In Queensland, Toowoomba (6C), Coolangatta (10C) and Cooktown (19C) all experienced their coolest temperature since October this morning. The lowest in the state was four degrees at Applethorpe, while Brisbane's 13.5C was the lowest in five months for the capital city.

Temperatures will be slightly higher on Friday morning for most of South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria as the air mass overhead becomes a bit warmer.

By contrast, many areas in New South Wales, the ACT and Queensland will be about as cold or colder than this morning. As a result, frost is likely to develop about higher ground in both states and could spread as far north as the Carnarvon Ranges in central Queensland.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2017

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A very wet weekend for southeast Qld, northeast NSW

11:48 AEST A prolonged rainfall event is set to bring large totals to parts of NSW and Qld from Saturday, with possible heavy falls and flooding. A low-pressure system in the Coral Sea, a deepening coastal trough and persistent easterlies will bring moisture-laden air into southeast Qld and northeast NSW will bring days of rainfall to the region. While there is not a drop of rain on the radar over southeast Qld and Northeast NSW on Friday morning, the mass of cloud associated with a low in the Coral Sea will enhance rainfall over the weekend.