Many towns throughout southern New South Wales have felt a slice of winter well ahead of schedule as overnight temperatures plummeted across the Riverina, Central West Slopes and Plains and the Southwest Slopes. Large areas across these districts felt temperatures drop to at least five degrees below the average. Cowra felt a chilly ten degrees below the January minimum average at six degrees and coldest January morning since 2012. Young experienced a cool four degrees, 11 below the January average and again the coolest since 2012. In the Riverina, Wagga Wagga dropped to six degrees, ten below the January average and more resembled a figure expected in September. These cool temperatures can be attributed to a very cool air mass and westerly winds in the wake of a passing cold front. Over the next few days a warming air mass and cloud cover associated with a low pressure trough will raise overnight temperatures to that more likely experienced during the middle of summer.