The first blast of wintry conditions arrived late on May 24 with cold strong winds, showery periods and low maximum temperatures.
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This month's rainfall at Wangaratta and at other centres nearby has exceeded the May averages for the first time for any month this year.
The surface synoptic charts over recent days show a very deep complex low pressure area sitting in the Southern Ocean.
Several active cold fronts have swept northwards into our area with heavy snowfalls at alpine resorts and snow has fallen as far north as Armidale and Guyra.
A series of active fronts is again heading our way.
Melbourne and Canberra had their coldest May day this week for 19 years.
The cold conditions are fairly common this time of year with late May cold outbreaks occurring in 1951, 1969, 1977, 1989 and 2000.
The first week of June following these years was generally dry and sunny in NE Victoria, then came significant rain during the second week.
A series of active fronts is again heading our way.
There was widespread heavy rain in NSW and Northern Victoria during the second week of June 2005.
By sharp contrast above normal heat has continued in northern WA.
Broome with an average maximum temperature of 35 degrees this month to May 28 will certainly break the record warm May of 2005 when the average maximum for that month was 34.3.
Carnarvon in the Gascoyne region of WA, recorded a very hot day of 35 degrees, easily a record for late May in more than 100 years of records. Never before in Carnarvon has the temperature reached 35 after May 13.
Perth recorded its driest May with 17.8mms since 14.4mms in 1964 and this year's rainfall of 75.6mms is the fourth driest since 1840.
This does look alarming for us as Perth's unusual weather pattern like this one sometimes transports eastwards to Victoria.
In addition both Sydney and Hobart have recorded their driest May since 2008.
Along the South Coast of NSW the cold, wintry conditions did not reach this area until May 27.
Temperatures reached 27 at Sydney, 26 at Bega and 28 at Kiama and 26.8 at Moruya on May 25 and 26 and many people were swimming at popular beaches.
Southern Victoria has also experienced very strong winds.
Hogan Island in Bass Strait had winds blowing continuously at more than 100km/h during a 10-hour stretch, with a maximum gust of 139km/h.
