Aussies to shiver through ‘tumbling’ temperatures after areas hit with chilly weather up to 10C below February average

Australians have been warned not to pack away their puffer jackets just yet after one state recorded temperatures up to 10C below average.

Australians have been warned to keep their puffer jackets handy and brace for plummeting temperatures as some states experience a drop of up to 10C below average for this time of year.

Victoria shivered through its coldest February morning since 1993 at 5C on Sunday, after a cold front pushed through southeastern Australia over the weekend.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said the cold front ushered in a large pool of cold air from across the southern ocean.

“This has brought temperatures across the south tumbling down through the weekend and into the new week,” she said.

“Both daytime and nighttime temperatures have been between two and 10 degrees below the February average over the last couple of days.”

Unseasonal early winter weather and snowfall on Mount Buller over the weekend. Picture: Facebook

She said while many places dropped to their lowest February temperature on record on Sunday morning, Monday into Tuesday was “another chilly night” for the country’s south and east.

Parts of inland Queensland and NSW were expected to record overnight minimums up to 10C cooler than February averages on Monday evening, with more cold weather on the way.

“Tuesday and Wednesday will be two more days with widespread below average temperatures, both daytime and overnight,” Ms Bradbury said.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Jonathan How earlier said the feels-like temperature was about 8C in Melbourne on Saturday as cold southwesterly winds moved through the state.

“You definitely felt very cold if you were outside on Saturday,” he said.

“A big change from the warmer days we had during the week.

“And then Sunday morning it dropped to 9.9C in Melbourne, the coldest February morning in Melbourne since 1993.”

Mr How said parts of the state dipped below 5C on Sunday morning, with summer snow on parts of the Victorian Alps.

The front has left a cold air mass across Tasmania, Victoria and southern and eastern NSW.

“Many people, especially across Hobart, Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra, have definitely noticed quite a shift in temperatures over the weekend,” Mr How said.

Victorians were caught off guard over the weekend after the state recorded its coldest February morning since 1993. Picture: Facebook

In NSW, Canberra dropped to just 3.2C on Sunday morning, while Sydney suburbs also felt the cool change, with Campbelltown dipping to 10.5C.

Mr How said the drop in temperature over the weekend caught many southeastern Aussies off guard, especially Melburnians.

“The change from hot to cold has been quite dramatic,” he said.

“We are at the tail end of summer getting towards autumn so we’ll probably start to see more of these cooler days in the weeks ahead, but summer’s definitely not over yet.”

With temperatures forecast to climb back up to 36C in Melbourne on Saturday, Mr How advised locals to be prepared for fluctuating weather as summer comes to a close.

“We’re seeing that rollercoaster that Melbourne is used to, with temperatures going up and down,” he said.

“The good news is there are some summery days ahead.

“Put your puffer away, but don’t pack it away just yet.”

Originally published as Aussies to shiver through ‘tumbling’ temperatures after areas hit with chilly weather up to 10C below February average