HORSHAM experienced its coldest July day in 17 years on Friday.
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Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster for Victoria Richard Carlyon said the city shivered to a low of -4 at 6.45am.
It was the lowest temperature anywhere in the Wimmera that day.
Mr Carlyon said it was the coldest minimum on a winter day since 2006.
Ararat had a minimum of -3.5 on Friday, Stawell’s temperature dropped to -1.6, and Warracknabeal had a low of -2.2.
Mr Carlyon said a lack of moisture in the region contributed to the cold snap.
“How many frosty mornings we get is determined by how dry it is,” he said.
“Less moisture, less cloud at night and more high-pressure systems tend to mean a greater number of frosty mornings, compared with wetter winters.”
Mr Carlyon said if the rest of winter stayed dry, more chilly mornings could be on the way.
”The bureau is tipping an El Nino, which normally means drier conditions,” he said.
“If that occurs we will probably end up with some similar mornings to Friday.”
Mr Carlyon said there was little rain on the way for the Wimmera this week.
“The best chance will be today as a front approaches, and that could bring about two to eight millimetres,” he said.
Wimmera rainfall for the first month of winter was close to average.
Longerenong College weather statistics compiled by Brett Allender show the college received 43mm in June, on par with the long-term average.
The total was more than the previous three months’ rainfall combined.
The biggest fall was on June 16, with 18mm.
The overall total for 2015 sits at 165mm, about 20mm below the long-term Longerenong average.
Daily maximum temperatures were below average, in part because temperatures failed to reach above 15 degrees in the second half of June.
The warmest day was June 12 with a top of 18 degrees.
Thirteen frosts were recorded during the month, and five nights dropped below zero degrees.