Ballarat’s coldest September morning in more than a decade marked the first day of spring.
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As the first sign of spring sunshine peeked through the clouds in the city, Weatherzone Meteorologist Tristan Myers said the temperature in the city dropped below -4.6 degrees.
"The low temperature in the early morning was indicative of type of chill you would see during mid winter,” Mr Myers said. “It was well below the average temperature you'd expect for this time of year in Ballarat.”
Rain and cooler temperatures are predicted for the rest of the week but sunny days are just around the corner.
Mr Myers said blue skies and a top of 13 degrees was expected for Ballarat on Saturday.
"There is the chance of a few storms developing and rain continuing through to Thursday,” Mr Myers said.
"The weather will become brisker later in the week and then there is expected to be calmer conditions across Ballarat and Melbourne coming into the weekend."
The beginning of spring also marked the start of the allergy season.
Ballarat Health First general practitioner Doctor Sally McAleese said warm, windy weather and plentiful pollen created the perfect allergy storm.
Dr McAleese anticipated there would be an influx of people seeking advice and treatment for their allergies in the coming months.
She urged allergy sufferers to take control before the season kicks in by visiting their GP or pharmacist.
“The most common type of allergy we see at this time of year is pollen allergies, “ she said.
Dr McAleese also encouraged parents of children with allergies to discuss medication treatments with their family doctor.
Dr McAleese said allergy clinics also offered allergy testing, immunotherapy and new treatments that reduced symptoms.
“More people are becoming aware of their symptoms and are wanting to reduce those where possible,” she said. “Allergies can have a terrible impact on peoples’ lives and really interfere with their daily living but there are treatments available.”
Treatments used to reduce allergy symptoms include over-the-counter antihistamines and nasal sprays. Tips for avoiding symptoms include staying inside on windy days and reading local allergy counts on weather forecasting websites.
