A polar blast has swept across southeastern Australia, bringing snowfall to low altitudes and providing an early boost to ski resorts. Falls Creek village in Victoria received a light dusting of fresh snow as temperatures dropped to –5.4C overnight.
Snowfall at Low Levels
The Bureau of Meteorology reported that Victoria experienced snowfall at reasonably low levels, around 400 meters in altitude. Angus Hines, a meteorologist, noted that many people woke up to an uncommon winter dusting. The cold front affected Victoria, Tasmania, southern New South Wales, the ACT, and parts of South Australia, with temperatures 2C to 8C below average.
Ski Resorts Capitalize on the Cold
Ski resorts like Mt Buller, Mt Hotham, Falls Creek, Thredbo, and Selwyn have been using snow guns to supplement the natural snowfall. A Mt Buller spokesperson said Thursday was the first day temperatures dropped to -5C, allowing the snow guns to produce effective results. The sudden shift from warm weather to full ski gear has caught people's attention.
Weather Forecast
Sydney will experience chilly mornings with lows around 9-11C and highs up to 23C. Melbourne will see lows of 10-12C and highs of 16-17C. Inland Queensland and much of the Northern Territory will enjoy mid-to-upper 20s. Hines emphasized that the weather in the southeast is dominating headlines as winter approaches, with shorter days and longer nights making cold bursts more likely.
