If you’re in the south/east of Oz right now, you’ve probably been reaching for an extra layer as a prolonged cold snap has us shivering towards Friday’s winter solstice – aka the shortest day of the year. Bureau of Meteorology forecasters say the “chilly conditions” have lasted for “quite a long time” already, and will stick around for most of this week. Brr… As for athletes heading to Paris for the Olympics next month, they’ve been warned to expect “the hottest Games on record” – potentially posing health dangers. Forecaster Météo France says there’s a 70% chance the country will swelter through hotter summer conditions than normal this year. And it’s not a one-off – the International Olympics Committee reckons “heat stress experienced by elite athletes will continue to rise” as the effects of climate change hit.