You’re not imagining it – eastern Australia is much colder than normal for this time of year

Very cold overnight lows are forecast until Friday or Saturday, while daytime temperatures should return to average by about Wednesday

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From Tasmania to Queensland, minimum temperatures of about 5C below seasonal averages are setting the tone for a bracing week ahead across eastern Australia.

On Monday morning, the temperature at Brisbane airport dipped to 2.7C – the coldest observation at the site since 2014. Tasmania’s Ouse had its chilliest start since 2015, with the temperature sitting at just -6.4C.