The cold snap which hit southeastern states about a week ago has reached the northern tropics hard, nights have been especially chilly.

Darwin is heading for its coldest run of nights in at least 40 years, by chilling below 15 degrees for five-in-a-row. They have already had four.

Daly Waters, which has an average minimum temperature in June of 13 degrees, has dipped below five degrees in each of the last five nights. This is the first time in more than 40 years of records that there have been more than two consecutive nights as cold.

Since last Friday, nights in north Queensland have become progressively colder. In that time Cairns’ overnight minimums have dropped from 22 degrees, four above average, to 10 degrees, eight below average.

Last night, both Cairns and nearby South Johnstone had their coldest night in three years, South Johnstone chilling to 8.6 degrees, seven below average.

The cold snap has been extended by a low near NSW, which pumped southerly winds to the far north of the country.

Tonight and Friday night will be similarly cold before very dry winds lose their chill and gain some humidity as they turn more easterly over the weekend and early next week.

– Weatherzone