If you're reading this still snuggled up in bed, you might want to stay there. It was colder in Canberra than at Thredbo on Saturday morning, as temperatures in the capital plunged to minus 8.7.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Helen Reid said that while it was the coldest morning in at least six years, the low actually surpassed that recorded on July 29 2011, at minus 8 degrees, and was on track to break more records.

Bernard Majadas, 5, rugged up to brave the frosty Canberra morning on Saturday. Credit:Dion Georgopoulos

"We won't know for sure for a few days yet if it's surpassed any others, but it's definitely in the running for a medal," she said.

While Canberrans were already bracing for a chilly start to the weekend, with lows of 6 degrees forecast for Saturday and Sunday, temperatures slid even further into freezing just after sunrise.