The first day of October started with a temperature difference of more than 30 degrees between the extreme north and south of Australia. 

Minimum temperature on Saturday 1st 

The early hours of the morning had been freezing in Tasmania, with temperatures nearly minus 7 degrees. Meanwhile, in the northern states of Northern Territory and Queensland, the day dawned sultry with temperatures of almost 30 degrees. At both extremes, temperatures were 2-8 degrees below and above average, respectively. 

Coldest minimum temperatures today: 

• Liawenee (TAS ) recorded -6.9 degrees (7.7 degrees below average); 
• Butlers Gorge (TAS) recorded -3.7 degrees (6.1 degrees below average); 
• Tunnack (TAS) recorded -2.3 degrees (6.7 degrees below average). 

Highest minimum temperatures today: 

• Victoria River Downs (NT) recorded 27.6 degrees (5.2 degrees above average); 
• Delamere (NT) recorded 27.0 degrees (3.1 degrees above average); 
• Coconut Island (QLD) recorded 26.9 degrees (2.2 degrees above average). 

So what’s happening? 

In the south, a high pressure system coupled with a mass of cold air helped to bring down temperatures during the night. Cold air was also felt in eastern Victoria and southern New South Wales, but in a less intense manner due to cloud cover. 

The north of the country has been receiving warmer air due to a trough that is bringing warmer air from the tropics to northern Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia. 

Minimum temperature on Monday 3rd 

 This trough will move eastward over the next few days and will spread above-average minimum temperatures across much of the Northern Territory, Queensland, and north of South Australia. 

The cold will ease in Tasmania as cloud cover increases with another trough crossing the region earlier in the week. On the other hand, temperatures are expected to drop in eastern Victoria and southern New South Wales with clear skies due to high pressure.