Temperatures have continued to be below the April averages. Wangaratta had successive mornings of below zero degrees on April 17 and 18 for the first time this early since 2001.

To date, Wangaratta has recorded frosts on six days this month; the most in April since seven days in 1999. Rutherglen has recorded seven frosts this month; the most in April since 10 days in 2006 and 13 days in 1977.

A strong cold front on Tuesday brought a brief heavy shower, strong winds and an additional influx of colder air which resulted in widespread frosts in the western Victoria and South Australia. Mildura, with a minimum of one degree, had its coldest April morning since 0.6 on April 23, 1999. In South Australia, Clare, Renmark and Loxton all had minus one degree, also the coldest for April since 1999.

There has been heavy rain at places along the mid-north coast of Queesnland. Ingham had 382mm in 48 hours, the heaviest two-day total for April since the 422mm that fell on April 7-8, 1894. This month's total at Ingham of 738mm is already the highest for April since 1350mm in 1894.

Moree had its wettest March since 1894 and last weekend received 18mm, which also happened during the third week of April, 1894.

There was no shortage of rain from mid-May 1894 to early October 1894 in north-east Victoria, with monthly totals being above average.

Several fronts moving up from the Southern Ocean in the next week will keep temperatures below average, including more frosts.

Melbourne is facing its fifth-successive month of below normal maximum temperatures. The last time this type of temperature profile occurred was from December 1977 to April 1978.

It is not all doom and gloom, because May 1978 had a warm first week with the temperature reaching 25 degrees, then significant rain by mid-May in Victoria.

In 1999, the first week of May was also warmer than normal, then came heavy rain about mid-May.

The winters of 1978 and 1999 were wetter than average and maximum temperatures, especially in 1978, were below normal.