MANY southern states' residents typically head north for holidays to escape the chill, but this year is different.
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We are now in the cool end of April, as far as long-term averages go, but Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia are bathing in temperatures five to 10 above the norm.
Hobart is in the middle of six days above 20 degrees and Adelaide and Melbourne a similar number above 25.
For this late in April this is something that hasn't happened in more than 150 years of records for Melbourne.
For Hobart the last time it happened was 30 years ago and for Adelaide it was seven years ago.
Sunshine and persistent northeasterly winds are combining to bring this late April warmth, making southern states more holiday-like than the north.
A typical northern holiday destination, Byron Bay, has just had five days in a row below 25 degrees and has picked up 45mm of rain.
The unseasonable warm spell will end early on Anzac weekend when a strong cold front crosses the region.
By the end of the weekend temperatures will have dropped by three to 10 degrees.
