Alice Springs is currently experiencing its coldest August to date in 25 years, and the fourth coldest on record. Both maximum and minimum temperatures have been running well below normal so far this month, almost four degrees below the long-term average. The minimum temperature in the red centre town between August 1st and August 19th has only averaged 2.3 degrees, 3.7 degrees below the long term average of 6 degrees. Days have also been significantly cooler, only averaging 19 degrees for the month so far. This is also 3.7 degrees below the long-term August average and the coldest run of August days since 1962. The cause of the cold conditions over Alice Springs has been a persistent ridge of high pressure and a lingering cold air mass. The cold air mass has allowed daytime temperatures to not get very warm, while the high has encouraged clear skies and light winds, allowing heat to rapidly dissipate at night. These kind of temperatures have not just been confined to central Australia, with inland areas of NSW also experiencing unusual cold. Overnight minimum temperatures in Broken Hill have averaged around four degrees for the month so far, three degrees below the August average. Condobolin has only averaged 0.3 degrees, 2.9 degree below the monthly average. However as the month nears it end, temperatures will gradually rise and they should become warmer as it gets closer to spring.