Australia weather: Coldest May on record temperatures as low as -2.7C

Australians shiver through the coldest May EVER as temperatures plunge across the country – here’s when it will end

  • Temperatures as low as -2.7C in Queensland
  • Coldest May on record for Bankstown, NSW, with 0.7C
  • High-pressure system to ease from Tuesday

Australians have woken up to freezing temperatures, with some towns recording their coldest May morning on record.

Widespread frost was reported in parts of Queensland, Northern Territory, New South Wales and Western Australia on Sunday morning.

The Bureau of Meteorology recorded minimum temperatures as low as to -2.7 degrees at Injune Post Office in Queensland.

Records were broken in Hughenden, Queensland, where residents woke up to -1.4 degrees, while Bankstown and Penrith each had their coldest May temperature ever, hitting 0.7 degrees and 0.6 degrees respectively.

Tamworth also recorded its coldest May morning with -4.8 degrees.

Australians have shivered through more chilly temperatures, with some areas across the country recording their coldest May morning in 15 years (stock image) 

Widespread frost was reported in parts of Queensland, Northern Territory, New South Wales and Western Australia on Sunday morning

Widespread frost was reported in parts of Queensland, Northern Territory, New South Wales and Western Australia on Sunday morning 

Records were broken on Saturday with Sydney’s Observatory Hill recording a minimum temperature of 6.9°C at 7:04am – its coldest May morning in 24 years while Bega’s -1.6C was its coldest in 15 years. 

NSW suburbs including Camden and  Tibooburra also recorded their coldest mornings for the month in 12 years with minimum recorded temperatures of -1.2C and 3.8C respectively.  

Temperature dropped to 1.1C by 5.30am in Perth, marking the coldest May morning the area has experienced in 59 years. 

The chilly start was only 2.4C warmer than Perth Airport’s record minimum of -1.3C set on June 17, 2006. 

Minimum temperatures as low as to -2.7 degrees were recorded in Queensland, while Bankstown and Penrith each had their coldest May temperature ever, recording 0.7 degrees and 0.6 degrees respectively

Minimum temperatures as low as to -2.7 degrees were recorded in Queensland, while Bankstown and Penrith each had their coldest May temperature ever, recording 0.7 degrees and 0.6 degrees respectively

A high-pressure system across the country is brining the unseasonably cold weather and will likely bring further cold temperatures well into Monday

A high-pressure system across the country is brining the unseasonably cold weather and will likely bring further cold temperatures well into Monday

Sky News Weather meteorologist Alison Osborne said the cold snap is expected to continue for the coming days, with many areas expected to record temperatures ‘well below average’.

‘Easily the coldest so far in Sydney and Canberra with a number of May and Autumn records at the lower end of the scale being easily broken,’ Ms Osbourne said.

‘Widespread areas are expected to get close to freezing.’

The bureau has also issued marine wind warnings for Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia as the system passes through.

Ms Osbourne said frost is expected to form again in Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory again on Monday, with temperatures forecast to be below five degrees again.

‘(Frost is) certainly normal for this time of year but it can be an issue for growers,’ she said.

Snow is also forecast to fall over the Australian Alps but Ms Osbourne said it will only be a light dusting.

Sydney is expected to reach a top of 18 degrees on Sunday, while Melbourne will hit a top of 15 degrees.

Queensland should be a little warmer, with temperatures forecast to reach a top of 22 degrees. 

Meanwhile, Adelaide recorded 5-20mm of rain overnight and showers are expected across the south east part of the country.

The bureau forecasts this will be the result of a weak trough pushing its way across the southeast, reinforcing cloudy conditions and showers.

‘Clear skies, light winds, and chilly mornings are on the cards for the remainder,’ the bureau stated.

A high-pressure system across the country is brining the unseasonably cold weather and will likely bring further cold temperatures well into Monday. 

Five day forecast across Australia

PERTH

Sunday:  Sunny Max 21C. Light winds.

Monday: Sunny. Min 10C Max 20C. Winds westerly 15 to 25 km/h during the day. 

Tuesday: Cloudy Min 9C Max 23C. Light winds tending northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h.

Wednesday: High chance of showers, Min 14C Max 24C. 0 to 10mm of rainfall. Winds north to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h increasing to 35 km/h before turning westerly 15 to 25 km/h.

Thursday: Showers easing Min 12C Max 20C. 0 to 8mm of rainfall. Winds west to southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h turning southerly 25 to 35 km/h then decreasing to 15 to 25 km/h during the evening.

ADELAIDE

Sunday: Shower or two. Winds west to northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h.

Monday: High chance of showers Min 12C Max 18C. 1 to 4mm of rainfall. Winds westerly 15 to 20 km/h.

Tuesday: Shower or two. Min 13C Max 18C. 0 to 2mm of rainfall. Winds west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy Min 13C Max 20C.  Winds north to northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h.

Thursday: Partly cloudy Min 12C Max 21C.  Winds northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the evening.

MELBOURNE

Sunday: Possible showers. Winds westerly 15 to 20 km/h.

Monday: High chance of showers  Min 9C Max 17C. Winds west to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h  in the evening then northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the late evening.

Tuesday: Possible showers Min 11C Max 18C. 0 to 1mm rainfall. Winds northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h.

Wednesday: High chance of showers Min 13C Max 19C. Winds northwesterly 25 to 35 km/h.

Thursday: High chance of showers Min 12C Max 16C. 0 to 2mm of rainfall. Winds northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h turning west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h.

BRISBANE

Sunday: Smoke haze in the afternoon and evening. Mostly sunny. Light winds.

Monday: Sunny Min 8C Max 22C. Possible smoke haze in the morning. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h. 

Tuesday: Sunny, Min 8C Max 23C. Light winds.

Wednesday: Sunny Min 8C Max 24C. Light winds.

Thursday: Mostly sunny Min 11C Max 25C. Light winds.

CANBERRA

Sunday: Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, becoming less likely later tonight. Winds northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h.

Monday: Partly cloudy Min 4C Max 14C. Winds west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h increasing to 20 to 30 km/h.

Tuesday: Cloudy Min 3C Max 15C. Slight chance of a shower. Winds northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h.

Wednesday: Cloudy Min 5C Max 16C. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h.

Thursday: Partly cloudy Min 6C Max 17C. Winds northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h.

SYDNEY

Sunday:  Partly cloudy. Winds westerly 15 to 20 km/h

Monday: Sunny. Min 10C Max 20C. Winds westerly 15 to 25 km/h during the day. 

Tuesday: Sunny. Min 9C Max 21C. Winds westerly 10 to 20 km/h.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Min 9C Max 22C. Light winds becoming westerly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon.

Thursday: Partly cloudy Min 9C Max 23C. Winds becoming westerly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning.

DARWIN

Sunday: Clear. Light winds.

Monday: Sunny, Min 17C Max 30C. Winds southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the morning.

Tuesday: Sunny, Min 18C Max 30C.  Winds east to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the morning.

Wednesday: Sunny, Min 18C Max 30C. Winds easterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, Min 18C Max 30C. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning.

HOBART

Sunday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h.

Monday: Partly cloudy Min 8C Max 13C. High chance of showers, 0 to 2mm if rainfall with possible small hail. Winds northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h tending westerly 25 to 35 km/h in the morning then west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the evening.

Tuesday: Cloudy Min 7C Max 17C. High chance of showers, 1 to 5mm of rainfall. Winds northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h.

Wednesday: Showers Min 11C Max 17C. 0 to 4mm of rainfall.  Winds west to northwesterly 25 to 40 km/h.

Thursday: Shower or two Min 7C Max 13C. 0 to 1mm of rainfall. Winds westerly 25 to 35 km/h.

Source: Bureau of Meteorology



***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk