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Warmer nights ahead after Canberra's coldest spell in 47 years

Canberra has just had its coldest run of nights in 47 years but the next few nights are looking noticeably warmer.

The national capital chilled below minus four degrees in each of the last seven nights and averaged an overnight low of -5.3. This made it the coldest run of nights since 1965.

In June 1965 there were seven nights in a row which got at least as cold as minus four degrees, averaging minus six degrees.

In 73 years of records, the only longer run of nights as cold was in 1962. In that winter there were eight nights of minus six degrees or colder.

Clear skies and very dry and gentle winds are now giving way to cloud, rain and stronger winds. This will make the next few nights noticeably warmer than during the past week. It may even stay above freezing for the next four or five nights.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights are likely to stay well above freezing, potentially making them the warmest run of nights since April.

This will make gloves and scarves redundant until at least the weekend, when nights are next likely to chill below freezing again.

In the meantime, Canberra is in for a spell of warmer nights and rain. The rain is a good chance to amount to 20 to 40mm between Tuesday afternoon and the weekend, potentially a month's worth in just three days.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2012

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