Australia Weather News

Eight areas across New South Wales experienced record-breaking cold weather overnight, but the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) says the state is still set for a relatively warm winter.

Cooma-Snowy Mountains Airport in the state's south recorded the coldest May morning since the weather station was established 27 years ago with -9.7 degrees Celsius.

Residents of Richmond in Sydney's west experienced their coldest May morning in 23 years at -2.1C.

Record-breaking lows were also recorded at in Sydney's Harbour, Lithgow in the Blue Mountains, Mangrove Mountain in the Hunter, Jervis Bay on the South Coast and at Horsley Park and Penrith in Sydney's west.

BoM forecaster Rob Taggart said general temperatures in Sydney were the coldest since August last year, while most sites across the state recorded the coldest May morning in about five years.

He said the chilly weather had been caused by a cold front.

"We've had a front come through and that's brought some dry southerly winds," he said.

"In the wake of the front, a high pressure system moved over New South Wales.

"So we've got a combination of a cool air mass, a dry air mass, and very light, clear skies and that creates very cold temperatures."

Record lows not to last, warm winter expected

Mr Taggart said Tuesday morning would also be cold, but rain would cause low temperatures to rise as the week continued.

"There's a big weather system coming through that will bring lots of rain towards the end of the week," he said.

"So we're expecting minimums should keep upwards there with cloud cover, though the maximums may not get quite as high."

Mr Taggart added the chilly mornings were not a sign of a colder than usual winter, with the climate outlook showing the season was expected to be relatively warm.

"We've come off a very long spell of quite warm weather, and for parts of eastern New South Wales, it's shaping up to be what looks like the hottest autumn on record," he said.

"Chances are more likely that we'll get a slightly warmer winter than normal."

ABC