Victoria's warmest start to spring in five years is coming to an abrupt end, by the end of this week it will feel more like mid-winter. It looks like being the coldest spell in a month, possibly even since July, which may come as quite a shock after recent warmth. The first five days of spring has been two-to-four degrees above the September average for nearly all of the state. Melbourne has been averaging a maximum of 20.5 degrees and Mildura 23.5, both three degrees above the long-term norm and their warmest start to spring since 2006. For the Alps, this warmth has meant there's been quite a bit of snow-melt. Mt Baw Baw's days have been warming to an average of 10 degrees, more than four above the long-term norm. This warmth will be a distant memory by the end of the week as wintry weather takes over as early as Tuesday and really kicks in from Friday. Snow may fall as low as 1000 metres and should amount to 20 to 50cm across the Alps. On Friday and over the weekend, Melbourne will struggle to reach its winter average maximum of 14 degrees. Throw in brisk winds, showers and it will feel like July. This is very timely with the AFL finals starting this weekend.