Sixteen signs that winter is coming.

Until very recently Australia was experiencing an endless summer, with heatwaves across the country. It’s been sunny, it’s been humid, it’s…well…not at all Autumn… even though we are well into March.

Actually, it has felt a lot like this:

But Winter is coming. How will we know? There are omens…

1. Daylight savings ends.

Upside: You get back that extra hour of sleep that was stolen from you in October. (Bonus for people in Queensland: Fewer spoilers).

Downside: It’s dark when you wake up. It’s dark when you get home from work.

2. Choosing what to wear gets easier, because everything goes with black.

And you have to do less laundry because you sweat less and those mysterious stains simply don’t show.

3. You no longer have to lie about staying in all weekend and watching Netflix. Because *weather*.

We’ve all made up what we did on the weekend so that we don’t have to tell our friends and colleagues that we got unhealthily obsessed with a teen drama we found on Netflix and just had to watch all four seasons in a row. Come winter, we can legitimately say it was too cold to venture out and the only thing to do was snuggle up with a blanket and a hot chocolate and watch the telly.

4. Boots.

See you in September, toes.

5. You’d rather leave the house without your pants than leave without a Chapstick.

Sore, bleeding lips are a nightmare. Don’t take the risk: Always wear protection.

6. Cardigans. Hats. Scarves.

Fact: Everyone looks better in winter. There is a very small window in which you can wear a scarf and you need to take advantage of that glorious, glorious window.

7. Comfort food.

Say goodbye to the salad or sandwich you make because you can’t bear to turn on the oven, stove or microwave. Hello, slow-cooked everything, gravy, pies, gooey grilled cheese, soups, stew and roasts.

8. Tights are back…

…which means razors are GONE. You need the extra insulation that body hair brings. Every additional follicle will make you more comfortable.

9. Doonas!

And blankets, knee rugs, flannelette sheets, flannelette PJs, flannelette everything.

10. People try and make Christmas in July happen.

We don’t need an excuse for a roast dinner. Just eat the roast.

11. Your pets get insanely fluffy.

Pet-owners spend most of the spring and early summer sweeping up after their shedding pets. But come winter, the pets hold onto every single hair until they are walking balls of fluff.

12. Colds, cold sores, coughs, flu, imminent death.

All Australians know that summer colds are hideous. But winter colds, or even worse the flu, hang around forever, move around every part of your body and suck away your will to live. Every sense is destroyed.

Defend yourself with a flu vaccination.

13. Clothes for summer start turning up in the shops.

In the same way that you know Christmas is over when Easter eggs turn up in the shops on December 27, there is no surer sign that we have reached the very depths of winter than the arrival of swimwear, short-shorts and singlets in the shops.

14. You have to fight for the last heater at your local discount department store.

Regardless of the signs, winter always takes Australians by surprise. So everyone rushes out at once to buy a heater. Melee ensues.

15. OK, so it’s really not that cold in Australia.

Those who live north of the equator will tell you that we know nothing of cold.

But Australians do still appreciate Snow.

And the final sign that winter is coming?…

16. People keep talking, texting, Tweeting, Facebooking about the bloody weather.

How do you stay snug and warm during winter?