Melbourne can expect warmer days as late summer finally arrives

IT SEEMS like summer is over before it has even begun — we’ve had snow, flooding and cold snaps. But there’s sunny skies ahead with a warm, dry autumn to come.

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IT’S SEEMS like summer is over before it has even begun — but don’t worry Melbourne, there’s a hot spell expected to send off the season.

Senior Meteorologist Scott Williams says despite it not being a particularly hot summer, temperatures have been slightly above average.

“We haven’t had long runs of heat, so people don’t think it was a terribly warm summer — it’s the second time in 12 years we haven’t had a day above 40 in Melbourne,” he said.

This summer has been a mixture of cold snaps, flooding, warm days, rain and wind — staying true to Melbourne’s mantra as having four seasons in one day.

Karoliina Niemi and Nea Orelma cool down at St Kilda beach. Picture: Stuart McEvoy.

And don’t forget last week when Victorian’s in the state’s alpine region woke up to a sprinkling of snow following a cold snap.

Despite it being summer, Mount Hotham, Falls Creek and Mount Buller all saw snowfall with temperatures dropping as low as -2.2C on February 20.

Beaches also copped the brunt of bad weather — many of them closed because of heavy rainfall and possible pollution.

Melburnians can take advantage of the last days of summer, with temperatures set to stay above 30C until Wednesday.

Soon enough, Melburnians be back under grey skies. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Wet grey Melbourne morning. Picture: Nicole Garmston

But fear not, the rest of the week is going to be warm too with 29C forecast from Wednesday through to Sunday.

“It’s a lovely warm end of summer and commencement of autumn,” Mr Williams said.

Warmer than average temperatures are also tipped to continue into autumn across the country.

It’s also expected to be drier than normal as a result of higher pressure across western and southern Australia, meaning fewer rain systems are likely to cross the coast.

The Bureau of Meteorology says autumn rainfall has declined over the past 20 years — and 22 of the past 26 years bringing below average rainfall to southeast Australia.

Several beaches in Port Phillip Bay including South Melbourne Life Saving Club, St Kilda and Elwood, were closed due to poor water conditions Picture: Jason Sammon.