Canberrans could finally feel justified in cranking up the heater, throwing on the Uggs and even succumbing to the double-doona, with Monday bringing the first frost of the year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
With temperatures dropping down to minus 1 degree, Monday was the coldest day of the year yet in Canberra.
Senior meteorologist Sean Carson, of the Bureau of Meteorology, confirmed the news, saying Goulburn and Braidwood also got down to minus 1, with Tuggeranong a touch warmer at 2 degrees.
However, Mr Carson also warned we may not have seen the back of the fierce storms and rain that left three dead in NSW last week.
"By Friday and Saturday we could see some rain again with a low pressure system building off the NSW coast, which is concerning for those on the coast considering what we saw last week," he said.
With more rain expected over the next two months in the ACT, night time temperatures are also expected to be warmer than average.
"In the short term we are expecting warmer night time temperatures and there should be a bit more rain over the next two months.
"There should be decent rainfall in NSW pushing into the ACT later this week," Mr Carson said
Relief from the rain could come as late as June, when drier, El Niño conditions are expected in Australia, according to Mr Carson.
"We should see El Niño conditions by sometime in June and July and that usually gives us dry conditions for the second half of the year," he said.
Canberra photographers capture season change
With autumn well and truly upon us, entrants to The Canberra Times photo competition are snapping away at our colourful trees.
Entrant Emily Davidson said her photo, taken outside Canberra Grammar School, was a year in the making.
She first noticed the vine at the end of last autumn and made a note to come back this year so she could capture the bright red leaves at their peak.
Another entrant, Franklin Wang, has spent even longer hunting for peak autumn foliage, claiming his shot took him three years to perfect.
His stunning view of the vibrant leaves contrasted against an overcast sky on King Edward Terrace in Parkes.
"I felt like I was in a dream when I was wandering around here", he said.
It wasn't just the photographers that were having a ball this week either.
Entrant Neva Kastelic was at ANU with fellow camera club members from the University of the Third Age taking photos of sculptures, when she spotted a delighted duck.
"I've never seen a duck having so much fun!" she said.
"I probably have about five photos of sculptures and 90 photos of this duck".
