Cold and dark

NSW: Sydney's coldest morning since 1986 Cold (SYDNEY)

SYDNEY, July 17 AAP - Sydney has experienced its coldest start to a July day for 21 years.

The temperature plunged to 3.7 degrees in the city at 6.54am (AEST), which the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) confirmed as the most frigid recorded since 1986.

Meteorologist Peter Zmijewski said a calm, clear night was to blame for the shivery conditions.

``Clear skies and little wind and, of course, it's winter,'' Mr Zmijewski said.

**It was a brisk session in the park this morning. The TT was abandoned due to poor visibility, but everyone who made the effort would be hard pressed to say that they didn't get a solid start to the day.