It was like a switch had been flicked.
After Melburnians basked through a number of warmer-than-normal May days, it plummeted to less than 12 degrees Celsius for three days running.
And it began before the Aussie winter had even officially arrived.
Last year, it took until July before the first sub-12-degree high. And it was one day in isolation.
The long-term average maximum for June is 14.1C.
While most people had to quickly throw together a winter wardrobe and began wondering what higher heating bills this year would mean for the household budget, ski resorts rejoiced when a big dump of snow arrived following two disappointing seasons impacted by lockdowns.
Earlier snowfall than usual — about 50 centimetres on the ground — prompted the major resorts to open a week earlier than the traditional Queen's Birthday holiday weekend.
"Everybody is just so stoked to be able to get back to our mountain," Falls Creek spokesperson Jessie Neale said as the slopes officially opened on Saturday.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Jonathan How said skiers saw a great start to the season over the weekend, with even bigger amounts of snow forecast for this week.
"We've seen really healthy snowfall totals over the last seven days, and expecting at least another half a metre over the next few days."
After a slight reprieve for Melbourne on Saturday, where the mercury reached a comparatively balmy 14.6C maximum, Sunday saw showers and a high of 13.7C.
More chilly weather is to come, with another deep polar low-pressure system to move up from near Antarctica and cross Tasmania into early this week, with a procession of cold fronts to cross the state.
"We're expecting temperatures to be about two to 5 degrees below average for this time of year until at least the rest of the week."
Temperatures in southern Victoria will be stuck in the low teens all week, with Melbourne only expected to make it to an icy 11C on Tuesday.
There will be small hail and a biting wind as well.
And in case your backyard tank has not filled yet, expect another 15 to 20 millimetres of rain.
Eastern suburbs could get up to 30 millimetres.
As for the Queen's Birthday long weekend, Mr How said not to bank on a sunny start.
"We will start to see a little bit of blue sky possibly come back on Sunday, more likely Monday," he said.
"Until then, we're definitely in for a bit of a cold week ahead."
