THERE was a mean chill in the air across south-west Victoria yesterday, with residents waking to apparent temperatures below zero as brisk winds fanned a cold inland blast.
At 8am Warrnambool airport weather station recorded 5.3 degrees on the thermometer — but minus 2.6 on the apparent temperature scale, which is based on a formula representing an adult walking outdoors in the shade.
A north to north-west wind blew at 35 to 44 kilometres an hour.
About the same time Port Fairy’s apparent temperature was minus 3.4 degrees, with actual reading of 6.8 degrees and westerly wind of 48 to 67 km/h.
Portland dipped to minus 4.5 degrees apparent temperature at 10.30am with a westerly wind of 44-61 km/h after overnight rain of up to 15 millimetres.
Hamilton was among the coldest south-west centres, hitting an actual maximum of only 6.4 degrees at 11.20am — the same temperature as 3am — while the apparent temperature dipped to as low as minus five at 10.35am.
But coldest of all was the top of Mount William in the Grampians, which reached only minus 1.9 degrees actual and an apparent minus 9.5 degrees at noon.
A slightly warmer change will sweep through today, lifting expected actual temperatures to 12 degrees with minimal rain and light south-westerly winds.