Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne weather: Millions shiver through coldest morning of the year

Millions of Australians shivered through their coldest morning of the year as a lengthy cold snap settles across the eastern parts of the country. 

Residents in Sydney and Melbourne faced a chilly 7°C and 1.6°C, respectively, with the 'feels like' temperatures sitting even lower due to frosty wind gusts on Wednesday.

Capital cities in Tasmania, Victoria and the ACT also hit freezing temperatures, with locals in Canberra waking to -4°C and a 'feels like' of -8°C. 

On Tuesday, inland Queensland smashed its 32-year record for the coldest June morning as temperatures fell to -5.6°C in Tambo and -3.4°C in Thangool.

Minimum temperatures in the Sunshine State were 8°C to 12°C below average on Tuesday, while on Wednesday large swathes of eastern Australia saw the mercury fall 4°C to 10°C below average. 

Weatherzone Meteorologist Ben Domensino said the prolonged cold snap was set to continue this week and was due to an unusually slow-moving low-pressure system. 

Mr Domensino explained the 'lingering cold air mass combined with clear skies and light winds' was behind the icy mornings and freezing nights across large parts of the southeastern and eastern Australia. 

Widespread frost is also expected over the weekend for the country's eastern third and is set to extend into South Australia and the southern parts of the Northern Territory. 

Mr Domensino added overnight temperatures would start to moderate midweek as a small cold front and associated low-pressure system introduces wind and moisture to the mix. 

Sydney 

Maximum temperatures are expected to range between the mid- to late-teens for the rest of the week. 

Meanwhile, minimum daytime temperatures for the week will remain below double digits, with 5°C on Thursday, 8°C on Friday and 9°C over the weekend. 

A possible shower or two is also on the cards on Friday through to Sunday, with the heaviest rainfall expected on Saturday of up to 6mm. 

Canberra

Residents in Canberra are in for an icy rest of the week, with temperatures set to drop to -1°C on Thursday. 

From Friday to Sunday, minimum temperatures are forecast to reach between -1°C and 1°C, with morning frost and highs of 13°C expected over the weekend.   

There is also the chance of showers on Thursday and Friday, with 2mm of rain forecast to fall on both days. 

Melbourne 

Temperatures in Victoria's capital will remain at a steady maximum of 13°C and 14°C for the rest of the week and into the weekend. 

The mercury is set to drop on Saturday and Sunday to a chilly 4°C, with possible showers forecast from Thursday and into the weekend. 

Brisbane 

Maximum temperatures in the Sunshine State capital are set to remain in the low- to mid-20s, with Friday warming to a pleasant 25°C. 

The mercury is set to drop as the week progresses, falling to a low of 9°C on Sunday. 

Adelaide 

Residents in Adelaide are in for a wet midweek as showers are forecast for Wednesday and Thursday, with up to 10mm of rain on both days. 

Maximum temperatures are set to hover around the mid teens, ranging between 14°C and 16°C. 

Meanwhile, minimum temperatures will remain below 10°C for the week, with a chilly 5°C forecast for Saturday.

Hobart 

Showers are forecast from Wednesday through to the end of the week for Hobart, with Friday expected to receive the most rainfall. 

Hobart will see its warmest day on Thursday with a top of 17°C, while minimum temperatures will linger around 4°C and 5°C throughout the week. 

Partly cloudy weather is expected over the weekend, with minimum temperatures of 4C° to 6°C and a maximum of 13°C.  

Perth 

In Western Australia, Perth residents will have dry and sunny conditions for the week, with maximum temperatures to linger in the high teens. 

However, the capital is in for a wet weekend, with up to 20mm of rain forecast for Saturday and up to 2mm of rain on Sunday. 

Minimum temperatures are set to range between 7°C and 12°C through to Sunday. 

Darwin

Meanwhile, residents in Darwin will escape the cold weather with sunny conditions and temperatures remaining in the low 30s well into the weekend. 

Minimum conditions will see some mornings drop to 19°C.