The solstice will take place on Monday, June 21 and has been used to herald the arrival of winter throughout history.

But what does it actually mean and does it always guarantee colder temperatures?

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What is the solstice?

A solstice, which happens twice a year (summer and winter), is commonly misunderstood.

According to Geoscience Australia, 'the winter solstice is the day of the year that has the least daylight hours of any in the year and usually occurs on 22 June but can occur between 21 and 23 June.'

'On the winter solstice, the sunrise is not the latest and the sunset is not the earliest. However, this day does have the least amount of daylight hours.'

So while it is the shortest day of the year, it doesn't necessarily mean that the sun won't rise until you're on your way to work.

In fact, later sunrises tend to occur after the solstice.

What does it mean temperature-wise? Well here's where we need a quick science lesson.

Seasonal temperature change has nothing to do with distance to the sun, rather the way the Earth tilts on its axis.

Our winter solstice marks the angle at which the Southern Hemisphere is pointed furthest away from the sun.

So while the winter solstice isn't guaranteed to be the coldest day of the year, it does mark the day where the heat from the sun will be spread over a bigger area.

Starting this weekend, the Southern Highlands and Southern Tablelands will see a drop off in temperature.

It won't be the brutally low temperatures experienced a couple of weeks ago but it will edge towards zero.

Bowral: Sun (3-10 degrees), Mon (3-12 degrees), Tue (2-12 degrees)

Goulburn: Sun (1-11), Mon (0-12), Tue (0-12)

Crookwell: Sun (1-10), Mon (-1-11), Tue (0-11)

Yass: Sun (3-13), Mon (1-13), Tue (1-12)

Braidwood: Sun (1-12), Mon (-1-12), Tue (-2-12)

Queanbeyan: Sun (2-13), Mon (-1-13), Tue (-1-12)

So stay warm and remember, only six months until the summer solstice!