Cold start for racegoers heading to the Cup today

Early rain was falling at Flemington today as Melbourne Cup racegoers braced for a chilly, windy day at the track.

The forecast is 16 degrees, however the Bureau of Meteorology’s senior forecaster Michael Efron says it will feel more like 10 degrees.

It’s set to be the coldest cup day in 11 years.

He said showers in the morning were likely to clear by the early afternoon but the rain should clear for the big race.

“We’ve had a very slow moving high pressure system to the west and that’s directing cool southerly winds across Victoria,” he said.

“Especially in the southern parts of the state, keeping the temperatures well below average for this time of year.”

Rod Dixon from the Bureau of Meterology told Tony Jones that the showers should clear up by 10 or 11 this morning.

“A dry though mostly cloudy afternoon will follow. There might well be one or two sunny breaks developing towards late afternoon.”