Brisbane Just Shivered Through Its Coldest May Day In 40 Years

Feeling a little chilly, Brisbanites? That's understandable — the sky is grey and cloudy, sunshine is mostly absent and the unseasonably cooler weather isn't expected to lift until next week. It's not just a colder-than-usual spell at this time of year that's making the city shiver, however, but the fact that Brisbane just experienced its coldest May day since 1980.

Yesterday, Friday, May 22, the mercury didn't pass 17.9 degrees. And if you can't remember the last time it was this cool at this exact time of year, that's because it has been almost half a century since anything in May came close, the Bureau of Meteorology reports. Usually, Brissie averages a maximum of 23.2 degrees in May, so that frosty temperature is well below the norm. In fact, the average minimum at this time of year is usually 13.3 degrees.

Today, Saturday, May 23, might beat yesterday's record, too — with BOM only forecasting a maximum of 17.5. At the time of writing, the mercury hasn't ventured past 13.6 degrees as yet for the day, in case you're wondering why you're feeling particularly cold while you're reading this.

While tomorrow, Sunday, May 24, is only expected to reach a top of 21 degrees, that'll obviously be considerably warmer than the last few days. And, it'll be the start of more normal temps, too. From Monday, May 24 onwards, maximum temperatures will hover between 24–25 and come paired with either sunny or mostly sunny conditions — just the way Brisbanites like their lead-up to winter.

Via Bureau of Meteorology.