If last week's cold snap had you wishing for more balmy conditions then consider yourself blessed.
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This week will be more like Spring than Winter with temperatures hovering in the mid 20s and sunny days.
On Sunday and Monday the Hunter was bathed in sunshine, the public holiday Monday reaching its top of 23 degrees.
The forecast for back to work Tuesday was another day of sunshine and a top of 24, the same for Wednesday and Thursday - which will have a 60 per cent chance of a light shower.
Friday's maximum will drop to 20 degrees, Saturday and Sunday and Monday 18 degrees.
Overnight temperatures are still dipping into single digits so it's not time to take the electric blanket off just yet.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is reporting warmer than average winter days for most of Australia except in far north Queensland.
Nights are also likely to be warmer than average overall, however dry soils and the forecast for drier than average conditions could bring more cloud-free nights, increasing the risk of frost in susceptible areas, the BOM reports.
It also reports that there could be a below average winter rainfall for much of eastern Australia.
The Bureau's manager of long-range forecasting Dr Andrew Watkins said winter was shaping up to be drier than average for most of eastern Australia, with warmer than average days very likely for much of the country.
"Southeastern Australia could see a dry start to winter, with the models showing June rainfall is likely to be below average in New South Wales, Victoria, eastern South Australia, and southern parts of both Queensland and the Northern Territory," Dr Watkins said.