In news that surprises absolutely no one, Melbourne's weather has been acting up again. After a few weeks of sunshine and temperatures in the pleasant mid- to high-20s, a cold snap has pushed up from the south and is sweeping across the eastern states of Australia. In Melbourne, that means minimum forecasts as low as 11 degrees and earlier-than-usual sightings of snow in the alps.
Does that mean summer has come to an early end? Thankfully, for now, it's looking like the answer is no. Temperatures are already set to rise again from Friday, February 10, with expected minimum forecasts of 18 degrees and maximum temperatures around the 28-degree mark.
It's not the first time in recent history that Melbourne has experienced some rather unusual weather for the time of year. In December, we reported that it was snowing in Victoria, just two weeks before Christmas. During the same period of time in the year prior, Melbourne was experiencing balmy summer days with temperatures in the high 20s and low 30s.
So, what gives? Why has the weather been weird not only in Victoria but, well, everywhere? Theories abound, but it's likely due at least in part to climate change. According to NASA scientist Alex Ruane, many of the extreme weather events that have been taking place globally have been the result of additional energy in the atmosphere resulting from more heat, aka rising temperatures. It may seem counterintuitive, but this additional heat can lead to cold extremes on top of an increase in devastating heat waves.