A shivering cold start to August swept across southeastern Australia this morning, with several inland locations recording their coldest August minimum temperatures in years, and in some cases, over a decade.  

Some of the standout temperatures this morning included: 

Leigh Creek, SA: -0.3°C (coldest August morning in 18 years) 

Fowlers Gap, NSW: -1.4°C (14 years) 

Ballera, QLD: 3.1°C (12 years) 

Whyalla, SA: -0.4°C (12 years) 

Broken Hill Airport, NSW: -0.6°C (8 years) 

Roxby Downs, SA: -0.2°C (7 years) 

The cold was also felt across the southeast's capital cities, with temperatures falling well below the early August average: 

Canberra, ACT: -3.9°C (4.4°C below average) 

Melbourne, VIC: 2.6°C (3.9°C below average) 

Adelaide, SA: 4.9°C (3.0°C below average) 

A strong high pressure system overhead created ideal conditions for temperatures to plunge overnight across much of southeastern Australia. Clear skies and dry air allowed the Earth’s surface to lose heat rapidly through radiation overnight, while light winds limited mixing with warmer air above. 

Image: Synoptic chart for Saturday, August 01, 2026. Source: Weatherzone.  

While the icy mornings may have made it difficult to leave the warmth of bed, they were welcome news for Australia's ski resorts and ski fanatics, with the cold, dry air creating perfect conditions for snowmaking and allowing snow guns to operate efficiently during the coldest parts of the morning.