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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
Sara Garrity

Coldest May day in 23 years, morning frost and fog sticking around

Snow hits capital region | The Canberra Times | May 2023

Canberra and the surrounding areas were dusted in white in a number of different ways after the capital recorded its coldest day in 23 years on Sunday.

Around 14 millimetres of rain reportedly fell, and a maximum temperature of just 7.8 degrees was recorded at 11.26am before consistently falling from there.

Canberrans driving past Lake George in the early evening were welcomed home with snow, and those living in Belconnen experienced an unusual white dusting of small hailstones settling on the ground.

Leonie Casey did not expect to have to walk through hail to get her groceries in Belconnen on Sunday. Picture by Sitthixay Ditthavong

A Facebook post showed cars in Cooma covered completely by centimetres of snow, with members of the public picking up snowballs by the handful.

Puffer jackets were dusted off all over the capital region on Sunday, but even with the record cold day behind us, it'll be best to keep them out, Canberra.

Monday turned out to be warm and sunny, but cold winds of up to 25kmh kept the chill in the air.

The rest of the week will will remain consistent with sub zero temperatures forecast in the mornings, and temperatures forecast to rise into the mid-teens in the afternoon.

Wind-chill factors reportedly set the apparent temperature on Monday morning to just 0.4 degrees.

The early hours of Tuesday are set to reach a minimum of minus-two degrees, with patches of morning frost taking the capital to a partly cloudy maximum of 15.

A sunny Wednesday may defrost the community, with a minus-one degrees in the morning rising to a maximum of 16 degrees.

The next three days are forecast to reach 17 degrees with mostly sunny days, all with a chance of morning fog or frost however.

No rain is expected throughout this week until the weekend, with a limited amount forecast to potentially fall during a maximum 17-degree day on Saturday.

Snow falls in Canberra region on coldest May day since 2000

In contrast to the Sunday prior, the coming Sunday is expected to reach a sunny maximum of 17 degrees, over double the highest temperature of the last.

Sheep graziers warnings are in place for large portions of NSW as well as Canberra, and will likely stick around throughout the week.

Hail fell consistently in Belconnen on Sunday, staying on the ground and turning Belconnen into a "winter wonderland". Picture by Jishen Li
Hail fell consistently in Belconnen on Sunday, staying on the ground and turning Belconnen into a "winter wonderland". Picture by Jishen Li
Hail fell consistently in Belconnen on Sunday, staying on the ground and turning Belconnen into a "winter wonderland". Picture by Jishen Li
Hail fell consistently in Belconnen on Sunday, staying on the ground and turning Belconnen into a "winter wonderland". Picture by Jishen Li
Hail fell consistently in Belconnen on Sunday, staying on the ground and turning Belconnen into a "winter wonderland". Picture by Jishen Li
Hail fell consistently in Belconnen on Sunday, staying on the ground and turning Belconnen into a "winter wonderland". Picture by Jishen Li
Sunday's hail from Lawson. Picture supplied
Sunday's hail from Lawson. Picture supplied
Sunday's hail from Lawson. Picture supplied
Sunday's hail from Lawson. Picture supplied

Did you get any pics or video from yesterday's icy blast? We'd love to see them. Send them to online@canberratimes.com.au

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