Canberra is set for a dry and warm spring, following a dry winter with just half the usual rainfall.
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The Bureau of Meteorology, which released its spring outlook on Thursday, predicts 2018 will be the warmest year on record, recording the highest average daytime temperatures.
"Those conditions we've seen basically since the start of the year are likely to continue," climatologist Felicity Gamble said. "We're seeing another dry season."
The outlook predicts a high chance of temperatures above the spring median of 19.5 degrees. There is 37 per cent chance of spring having a median rainfall of 183mm.
In winter, Canberra received only 48.2 per cent of the average rainfall for the season.
July was the driest since 1982. Only 7.8mm of rain was recorded in Canberra - 41.4 per cent of the average rainfall.
Temperatures were slightly above average. The mean maximum temperature of 13.5 degrees was1.3 degrees above average. The mean minimum temperature was 0.4 degrees, 0.3 degrees below average.
Canberra recorded its coldest August temperature since 2014 on Thursday morning. Minus 7.6 degrees was recorded at Canberra Airport.
Ms Gamble said daytime maximums and overnight minimums would tell contrasting stories, as drier weather meant fewer clouds to trap heat overnight.
"That often does happen during periods of very dry weather. It means that the day times end up being a little hotter than average," she said.
Snow resorts in NSW's alpine region are boasting their best conditions in 14 years, something Ms Gamble attributed to cold fronts and rainfall lashing Tasmania and Victoria.
"Those fronts have just pushed far enough north to bring some snow to the alpine region but they just don't get much further than that," she said.
"Seeing a warmer than average spring is in line with trends we've seen in recent conditions."
There was also double the chance of an El Nino this spring, later than usual; the bureau predicts-50 odds, twice the average annual likelihood of 25 per cent.
El Nino would mean reduced rainfall, higher temperature extremes and more frost.
"Even if it doesn't though we may still see those drier than average conditions," Ms Gamble said.
The beginning of spring also signals the start of the ACT's bushfire season, which authorities called one month earlier as dry conditions bring heightened fire risks.
The government also announced a financial assistance package for ACT farmers due to the drought conditions gripping the capital region.
