CANBERRA is heading towards its coldest summer since 1996.

“It’s been cold in Canberra this summer, so far the coldest in 16 years,” The Weather Channel senior meteorologist Tom Saunders said.

“Canberra’s maximum temperatures have averaged only 25C this summer, two degrees below normal and the lowest since 1996.”

Mr Saunders said the first eight days of February have proven “chilly” with an average temperature of 22.8C.

“The unseasonably cool temperatures are the result of our second consecutive La Niña summer,” he said.

“La Niña refers to a cooling of the equatorial Pacific Ocean which typically brings above average rain and below average temperatures to northern and eastern Australia.

“Over the next week it will stay cool and cloudy across the Australian Capital Territory with widespread rain from Thursday to Sunday.

“This summer Canberra has already recorded 146mm of rain, but after the expected rain over the coming days the total should climb above the average of 169mm.”