Chilly winters could become a thing of the past in the Shire, according to Bureau of Meteorology data

As we enter winter, Dr Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick explains how the Shire's June climate is changing. Plus, what are winter heatwaves and why are they dangerous?

WINTER nights are becoming unseasonably warm in the Shire.

During June, the average overnight temperature sits close to 10 degrees - almost three degrees warmer than it was in the 1970s.

These changes aren't just occurring locally - temperatures across Australia are increasing at an alarming rate.

So what does this mean?

While many welcome a bout of warmer weather during the colder months, winter heatwaves are becoming more frequent and are particularly harmful to our environment.

These 'warm spells' lengthen our bushfire season by drying out leaf litter, fallen bark and other fuel.

Shifts in temperature also disrupt the growth cycle of staple crops like barley and wheat, reducing their yield.

Changes in the climate also affect our communities.

Hear from Lugarno resident Elina Katsivarda-Panourgia:

Want more information on how your climate is changing? Check out the last article in this series.

Dr Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick is a climate scientist at the University of New South Wales.

This column is part of a collaboration between Monash University and News Corp to deliver hyperlocal weather and climate information.