Melbourne and Sydney have the coldest morning of the year with more coming

An extra blanket or two could be in order as Australians woke up to icy weather across the country. See how long the cold blast will last.

Millions of Australians have woken up to freezing temperatures with the lengthy cold snap not expected to go away any time soon.

Melbourne and Sydney had their coldest morning of the year on Wednesday, with minimums of 1.6C and 7C, respectively.

The freezing temperatures that hit multiple states including Tasmania, Victoria, ACT and NSW were thanks to a lengthy low-pressure system moving across the eastern third of the country.

Temperatures dipped below zero overnight at Mt Hotham and Falls Creek in Victoria's High Country. Picture: Chris Hocking

Large parts of the nation are stuck in a prolonged cold snap due to an unusually slow-moving low-pressure system.

Department store Myer said they have seen a 40 per cent increase in heater purchases both in store and online.

They said their top selling products included the Dyson air purifier, Goldair tower heater and Breville’s smart tilt control heater.

Bunnings general manager of home and lifestyle Adam Cole said they have also seen an increase in sales.

“Over the past few weeks we’ve seen an increase in popularity of heaters from small portable options to split systems with customers spending more time at home as the winter chill sets in,” he said.

“Customers are looking for affordable ways to keep their home warm and we are also seeing a growing appetite to make homes more energy efficient with products including door and window seals and insulation seeing an increase in interest.”

Melburnians feel the winter chill at Royal Park in Parkville. Picture: NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

In outback Queensland, a 32-year record was smashed on Tuesday as the state was hit with icy weather, with temperatures plunging to -3C.

Senior meteorologist Christie Johnson, from the Bureau of Meteorology, said the run of cold temperatures across the eastern seaboard would continue to develop over the weekend.

A woman walks her dog in Carlton Gardens, Melbourne on the coldest day of the year. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

“We get a bit of relief on Thursday and Friday morning. Basically there’s a low pressure system that’s going to be moving into South Australia, bringing a little bit of rainfall there and thunderstorms.”

The senior forecaster said the weather pattern was being “cradled” by an area of high pressure that was blocking the low pressure system.

The prolonged cold spell hitting the eastern states will continue. Picture: Newswire/ Gaye Gerard

“So it’s just sitting there and it’ll basically be sitting there in one form or another for the whole week,” she said.

Ms Johnson said after a small respite, there would be particularly cold temperatures on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Local Libby Chirnside enjoys the fresh snow at Hotham. Picture: Chris Hocking

The senior forecaster said in terms of the ski fields, there was not expected to be a huge dumping of snow.

“With this system that’s going to be coming through, there could be more snow. But I think we’re only talking 10cm or something.”

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Residents of the chilly cities are feeling the effects of the cold, with one Melbourne resident revealing how the winter weather had caused her hands to crack.

Marketing co-ordinator Bella Henry took to TikTok to show how the frosty conditions had caused redness and numbness in her fingers.

Captioning her video, “Melbourne weather is so unkind to me”, Ms Henry told how her body was unable to regulate temperature and she was left feeling constantly cold.

Bella Henry took to TikTok to express her frustrations with Melbourne’s cold.

TikTok user Bella Henry says the weather has been having a bad effect on her hands.

One user pointed out that it appeared she was suffering a flare-up of Raynaud’s phenomenon, a disease that causes areas of the body to feel numb and cold in response to cold temperatures or stress.

As the nation undergoes the big chill, Australians are stocking up on household items and appliances to take the edge off.

Starting to get cold in the mornings. Picture: TikTok

To ease some of the costs, every Australian household will receive a $300 energy bill rebate from July 1.

This will go straight into people’s bills, meaning households won’t receive cash but a discount instead.

More than 10 million households will receive the rebate, while small businesses will get a slightly higher $325 off their bills.

Melbourne has its coldest day of the year. People rug up in the CBD. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

People walking in Melbourne on the coldest day of the year. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

People near the Sydney Opera House forecourt as southeast Australia is shivering through a prolonged spell of bleak wintry weather that will linger for at least another week. Picture: Newswire / Gaye Gerard

People are seen rugged up in winter clothing walking along Circular Quay during a low pressure system that has caused the coldest day of the year. Picture: Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Haydon Myers, Harvey Norman’s executive general manager electrical, said: “As the wintry conditions continue, customers are interested in personal heating options, including heated throws or electric blankets enabling them to warm up quickly.

“In addition, heating products that are both functional and decorative are increasingly popular including electric fireplaces or slimline panel heaters.

“Panel heaters have the versatility of wall-mounting or mobile, as well as tailored to heat different sized rooms.”

Originally published as Melbourne and Sydney have the coldest morning of the year with more coming