Melbourne shivers through the start of summer, but warm weather is on the way
What kind of a summer is this?! Melbourne has kicked off December with an unseasonable chill as puffer jackets, scarfs and beanies were pulled from the wardrobe for the city’s coldest summer start in four decades.
Melburnians have shivered through the coldest start to summer in four decades as city-slickers donned their winter woollies to brave the official beginning of the new season.
The mercury hit a maximum of 15.8C in the city at 2.30pm on Monday, only slightly higher than the chilliest December 1 on record, being 15.5°C back in 1987.
People hit the streets in a sombre mood, wrapped in their puffer jackets on a day they would usually enjoy wearing sundresses and sandals.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s Senior Meteorologist Jonathan How said the city’s December 1 maximum hadn’t been so low since 1987, then since records began back in 1855.
Mr How said the bout of cold weather was “a classic Melbourne spring/early summer pattern”.
“It’s the hustle between the two seasons, which will stabilise more as we head into December,” he said.
Temperatures on Monday were between 7 and 8C lower than December averages of 24.2C.
Snow dusted Victoria’s alpine regions overnight, with a frosty beginning to the Christmas season at Mt Buller, Hotham and Falls Creek.
Mr How told Melburnians to “hang in there” with warm weather on the way later in the week.
Tuesday was set for possible showers and a top of 18C, while temperatures were expected to rise on Wednesday with a maximum of 29C.
Thursday was due to be warmer still with the mercury set to reach 33C before cooling back down to 20C on Friday.
Originally published as Melbourne shivers through the start of summer, but warm weather is on the way
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