Weather: Melbourne braces for cold blast as winter takes hold of the city
Melbourne is shivering through its coldest week of the year so far as winter officially takes hold of the city.
Rain, clouds and bitter winds are on the forecast as temperatures plummet to chilly daytime lows of six degrees.
On Thursday, a top of 15C and a slight chance of showers.
Then on Friday, a high chance of showers and a top of 14C.
On Saturday, a low of 9C and top of 15C with a very high chance of showers and cutting winds.
But the real chill will set in from Sunday, with the mercury set to plunge to a low of 7C with showers before a top of 13C.
It marks the coldest week for the year so far with daily highs consistently set to remain below 15 degrees.
That cold chill will continue into Monday, with the city set to be lashed by more intense showers and biting winds.
The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a top of 13C and low of 7C.
Showers and chilly maximums of around 15C will continue into early next week.
Despite the sudden polar freeze, the BOM is predicting a high chance of an 'unusually warm' winter in Melbourne.
That means looking forward, maximum daily temperatures will most likely keep above 15C and minimums above 7.5C between June and August.
Rainfall is expected to be on par with previous years in Victoria, according to early predictions.
It continues this year's trend of warmer than usual weather across the country.
Mean maximum temperatures were the highest on record throughout Victoria during autumn, with the mean temperatures hovering 1.9C above the historic average.
The state also had its driest winter since 2008, with less than half the rainfall this year than seen in 1961-1990.
Last month, daily temperatures kept around 18.5C at Melbourne Airport, one degree warmer than the historic average of 17.5C.
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