Towns shiver through deep freeze as frosts blanket Riverina

WIDESPREAD frosts swept across the Riverina this morning, with ‘feels like’ temperatures plunging as low as -7°C in some areas.

Towns across the region woke to an icy start, as a thick layer of frost coated rooftops, paddocks and ovals, with photos showing white-tinged landscapes at sunrise.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) recorded official lows of -2.5°C at Temora and -2.2°C at Wagga Wagga Airport, though wind chill made conditions feel significantly colder — down to -5.6°C in Wagga and -5.2°C in Temora at 7am.

Further west, Hay experienced its coldest morning in eight years, recording a minimum temperature of -4.8°C just after 7am, with a ‘feels like’ temperature of -7.3°C.

At Narrandera, the mercury dipped to -3.2°C, with apparent temperatures around -6.0°C.

While the BoM does not record official readings for Junee, the town experienced similarly icy conditions, with local observations pointing to temperatures near -3°C before dawn.

The ice transformed the soccer fields at Burns Park | © The Junee Bulletin

Junee’s sporting fields looked more like ski fields, without the slopes | © The Junee Bulletin

Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino said a combination of clear skies, light winds and lingering cold, dry air in the wake of a front provided the ideal conditions for temperatures to plummet.

“Temperatures reached 0°C or lower in six states and territories early on Thursday [and] despite only being the first week of winter, some places had their coldest morning in several years,” he said.

“Friday will be another cold and frosty morning in southeastern Australia as mostly clear and calm conditions persist under a high pressure ridge. However, temperatures won’t be quite as cold as Thursday morning.”

Broadway was transformed into a wintry boulevard | © The Junee Bulletin

Early risers braved the chill along Broadway’s Federation Pathway | © The Junee Bulletin

Winter’s arrived right on cue in Junee | © The Junee Bulletin

It was an icy scene outside Junee’s SES headquarters in Bolton Street | © The Junee Bulletin

The frost extended beyond the Riverina, with Goulburn recording a bone-chilling -6.9°C at 7:10am — and an apparent temperature of -9.6°C.

In Canberra, the air temperature at sunrise was -4.6°C, still feeling like -8.0°C well after 7:30am. Young also recorded a low of -3.5°C, with a ‘feels like’ of -6.3°C.

Meanwhile south of the border in Victoria, Wangaratta also recorded its lowest temperature in eight years, with the mercury there plummeting to -4.7°C.

A thick layer of frost coated rooftops, paddocks and ovals in Junee | © The Junee Bulletin

Frosty morning in Hill Street | © The Junee Bulletin

Lowest Official Temperatures Across the Region:

• Goulburn: -6.9°C (7:10am)
• Hay: -4.8°C (7:18am)
• Canberra: -4.6°C (7:10am)
• Young: -3.5°C (7:16am)
• Narrandera: -3.2°C (7:26am)
• Kapooka: -2.8°C (7:21am)
• Temora: -2.5°C (6:43am)
• Wagga: -2.2°C (7:11am)

Apparent (‘Feels Like’) Temperatures:

• Goulburn: -9.6°C (7am)
• Hay: -7.3°C (6:30am)
• Canberra: -8.0°C (7:30am)
• Young: -6.3°C (7am)
• Narrandera: -6.0°C (7:30am)
• Kapooka: -4.9°C (7:30am)
• Temora: -5.2°C (7am)
• Wagga: -5.6°C (7am)

Despite the icy start, the region is expected to warm slightly today, with mostly sunny skies and maximum temperatures ranging between 13°C and 15°C.

But the reprieve may be short-lived, with the Bureau warning of back-to-back cold fronts due to hit southern New South Wales from Friday, bringing the likelihood of rain, gusty winds, thunderstorms, snow, and even small hail over the long weekend.

• READ MORE: Riverina Braces For Polar Blast

The Junee Bulletin will continue to monitor forecasts and issue updates as the wintry system approaches.