It has been particularly cold this week, with a record low temperature recorded in Tasmania. Such records are increasingly rare as average temperatures continue to rise.

People living in southern Australia won’t have failed to notice how cold it is. Frosty nights and chilly days have been the weather for many of us since the start of July.

As winter continues, we are left wondering how unusual the cold is and whether we can expect several more months of this. Warmer conditions are in the forecast but winter has a long way to go. Further cold snaps could occur.

Cold conditions have been in place across southern Australia for the past few days. Temperatures have fallen below zero overnight in many places.

It’s not just the nights that have been cold. Maximum temperatures have also been below or well below average across most of the country.