Autumn in Melbourne

Officially it is fall here, but you would not have noticed it last weekend. Last Saturday the temperature was in the mid 20’s. On Sunday I went for a bike ride around the neighbourhood and looked down one street and you could see orange and brown leaves on the road. It looked like a typical street in a North American city during autumn but it was 20+ degrees.

But all that has changed as of Tuesday this week, rain has started failing and the temperature had dropped down to 19-20 degrees during mid-day. All Wednesday night and Thursday during the day it has been raining. Combine the rain with cooler temperatures of 9 – 14 degrees in the morning and evening and it feels rather cool in Melbourne. On the radio stations they are saying winter has come early.

For all my Canadian readers I am sure you would laugh at this. After the winter you have had this past season. But I find myself finding it rather cool. I have missed the past 3 winters (06, 07 and 08) in Canada. The last time I experienced massive amounts of snow was the winter of 1998-99. I remember 2005 as being rather cold in January/February.

I wonder how I will do if I were to face winter in Canada after not experiencing it for the past 3 years. I think I will be fine.

The difference here is that the swings in weather changes can vary. The fall season can vary between mid-range temperatures 12-19 degrees and high 20 – 25 degrees, all the way to May.

The biggest problem I have had with Melbourne weather is the rain. There has not been much of it. But what there has been has caused me to be on my 3rd umbrella. My first umbrella was a $4 cheapie, my second was a $15 advanced model and now I am on my third a $10 umbrella. This umbrella looks like it will last a bit longer than the other two. The rain and wind can tear apart your umbrella and I really miss my Isotoner umbrella with automatic open and close function.

Now that it is cooler, Melbourne looks very similar to Toronto during fall; people wearing various types of coats. It ranges from warm heavy coats to light material shells to provide an extra layer of protection against the cold weather and wind.

Unlike living in Toronto I do not have to look forward to snow and minus temperatures. Just cooler weather, which makes living in a non-insulated apartment harder to get out of bed in the mornings.