Parts of outback Australia are shivering through a severe cold spell with daytime temperatures barely reaching 10 degrees on Friday for the second day in a row. The surprisingly chilly weather is the result of a blanket of cloud which has spread east over central Australia during the past few days. Towns trapped under the cloud from sunrise to sunset have recorded maximum temperature as much as 12 degrees below average. Ernabella in northern SA reached a high of just 10 degrees on Thursday, their coldest day in two years and coldest May day in over 10 years. Tourists visiting Ulura may have been ill prepared for a high of just 13 degrees, the Rocks coldest day in two years and coldest May day in 24 years. It wasn't much warmer on Friday with Uluru struggling to only 15 and Ernabella just 12. The weekend will bring little relief with cloud cover and rain likely to keep temperatures around 10 degrees below average. Saturday should be the coldest day with Alice Springs forecast to reach just 13, their coldest day in nearly a year.