Much of the Illawarra coast has just experienced its coldest day in years. Nowra reached just 9.0 degrees - when both new and old station data are considered, this makes it the coldest day since 1963. Bellambi Point, near Wollongong, struggled to 11.0 degrees, its coldest day in eleven years of records. Although areas west of the ranges often see Winter daytime temperatures in the single digits, the Dividing Range normally shelters the coast from icy westerlies. Today, though, the freezing winds came from the southeast. The Illawarra saw the full brunt of cold, blustery southeasterlies, which combined with an unstable atmosphere to bring overcast skies and heavy showers. Both Pt Perpendicular (with 60 mm to 9 am) and Nowra (with 14 mm since 9am), have had seen their most rain in over 4 months. Showers are now clearing and temperatures will approach 20 degrees by Thursday.