It's been decades since August was this cold and damp in the southeast, warm in the far north and dry in the west. This is all due to a near-stationary weather pattern. Adelaide had its coldest August fortnight in 30 years averaging maximums of just 13.8 degrees. It's been damp in the city too. For 15 days straight from July 30 some rain fell, its longest stretch of rain-days since June/July 1891. Further east it's been the coldest August fortnight in 19 years in Ouyen and Warracknabeal in western Victoria, 18 years in Gunnedah and Barraba in northern New South Wales. In NSW and Queensland nights have also been extremely cold. Coolangatta broke an August record, dipping below eight degrees for 12 mornings straight. Darwin has had its warmest start to August in 20 years, averaging 32.6 degree maximums. In the west it's now Perth's longest August dry spell in 30 years - 12 days.