Melbourne weather: City on track for coldest July in 20 years

[Mark]

Melbourne is on track for its coldest July in 20 years.

The temperature plummeted to 1.9 degrees at 4.42am, marking only the third time in 20 years that there's been two consecutive mornings under 2 degrees.

The city was slightly warmer on Monday morning after Sunday's deep freeze, but there was still enough reason to crawl back under the blankets.
July has so far recorded an average maximum of only 12.6 degrees - a full degree under the 30-year average of 13.7.

Melbourne's average July maximum hasn't been less than 13 degrees since 1995.

The last time we recorded two consecutive mornings under 2 degrees was last August but before that, it was in August 1997.

Mr Williams said that was actually a pretty common occurrence in the 1930s (in 1937 there were eight consecutive days under 2 degrees).

"Compared to the historic record it pales into insignificance. Big cities with lots of cars and heating don't get as cold," he said.

Back to the present day, Mr Williams said Monday was an improvement on Sunday's big chill, but it was still cold.

"It's generally cold everywhere. There's really no hiding from it," he said.

Ballarat recorded a low of minus 4.5 degrees, the same as Coldstream in the Yarra Valley.

In the suburbs, it was minus 1.7 degrees at Avalon, minus 1.5 at Laverton, minus 1.1 at Geelong and minus 1.4 at Essendon.

Others including Viewbank, Scoresby, Moorabbin also recorded sub-zero temperatures.

Ironically, the warmest area was perhaps where you would least expect it - Ferny Creek in Mount Dandenong recorded a practically balmy low of 3 degrees.

Melbourne will move into a milder week, with some showers and a top of 15 degrees forecast until Friday.

The next significant cold snap is likely to arrive late on Saturday.
Melbourne weather: City on track for coldest July in 20 years

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