Sub-zero temperatures sent shivers across six states and territories on Monday morning, with some places experiencing their lowest temperatures in 2 to 4 years.

A lingering cold air mass combined with clear skies and relatively light winds caused temperatures to plunge across large areas of southeastern and eastern Australia on Sunday night into Monday morning.

The map below shows modelled temperature anomalies early on Monday, with the blue shading representing areas that were below average for this time of year.

Image: Modelled 2-metre air temperature anomalies at 4am AEST on Monday, June 17, 2024. Source: Tropical Tidbits

Some of the standout observations from Monday morning included:

• -4.8°C at Yunta (SA)
• -3.8°C at Canberra (ACT)
• -3.6°C at Thredbo Top Station (NSW)
• -3.7°C at Mt Hotham (Vic)
• -2.4°C at Wynyard (Tas)
• -1.0°C at Roma (Qld)

Yunta’s -4.8°C on Monday morning was the lowest temperature in SA so far this year, and the site’s coldest morning in four years.

Even Cairns in northern Qld was feeling the chill on Monday, dipping to 12.8°C shortly before 7am during its coldest morning in two years.

Looking ahead, teeth-chattering minimum temperatures will continue to affect parts of southeastern and eastern Australia for the next few mornings under the influence of a near-stationary high pressure ridge.

Images: Forecast minimum temperatures on Tuesday (top) and Wednesday (bottom) mornings, according to the ECMWF-HRES model.

Temperatures are likely to dip below -5°C in parts of southeastern Australia between Tuesday and Thursday mornings.