How Cold Does It Get in AustraliaJuly 31, 2014

Have you wonder what is the lowest temperature ever recorded in Australia. The answer is rather not simple.

The coldest took place in Charlotte Pass on June 29, 1994. It happened to be a ski resort in the Snowy Mountains, that part of New South Wales which Sydneysiders - and the rest of Oz - go to during this time of the year. You won't find a colder place in Australia than this spot. But one must note that the climate of Australia is influenced by ocean currents, with the northern part being tropical and the southern regions subtropical or temperate. The southwest corner has a Mediterranean climate, the one thing unique n this part of the world.

First impressions are often wrong

Outsiders have that idea about the Australian landscape being arid. Uluru, located in the southern part of the Northern Territory, is the first image that comes to mind followed by the bushfire happening year after year. But the truth is it's been raining on most of Oz. The cities of Cairns, Townsville, and Rockhampton, all in Queensland, witness heavy yearly rainfall. Byron Bay is next after those three, a coastal town near the border of Queensland and New South Wales.

The Australian Capital Territory is noted for its continental climate marked by extreme temperatures. The lowest minimum temperature recorded was -14.6 °C (5.7 °F) at Gudgenby on July 11, 1971. Over half of New South Wales has arid or semi-arid climate. The areas near Snowy Mountains is the exception. Armidale, a city in Northern Tablelands, experiences the lowest temperature at 7 °C (45 °F). Wagga Wagga, a metropolis near the border of New South Wales and Victoria, is next at 9 °C (48 °F). Sydney, the state capital, is not far at 14 °C (57 °F).

The Northern Territory is associated with tropical cyclones and monsoon rains. Though there is minimal rainfall during the winter season, temperature dips as low as 14 °C (57 °F). It's not much different in Queensland, where winter is characterised with little rain. Other than that, it's still warm throughout with variations in temperature depending on which region. (Hot and humid in the far north and coastal, warm and humid in the coastal elevated hinterlands and coastal southeast, mild winter in central west, cold winter in southern west, and temperate in the inland southeast.)

The weather is quite different down there

South Australia has mild wet winters and hot, dry summers, a pattern also shared by Western Australia. Despite its small land area, Victoria is the wettest with cooler temperature experienced in elevated terrains. As for the island state of Tasmania, there is snowfall during the months of June and July. But overall, the climate is wet. This brings us back to Sydney.

During this time of the year, Australia's largest capital enjoys a dry, cool winter. This is the reason why outdoor happenings like Vivid Australia is held. It's the best time to come here for a holiday, and if there's time, travel to Snowy Mountains.

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