Snow falls at Thredbo ski fields in, NSW as cold snap hits Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart
Summer is officially over, Australia’s ski resorts are getting snow for the first time and cities are waking up to the coldest morning in months
- Snowfall hits mountain peaks in southeastern Australia
- Tropical cyclone, Isla, still brewing off the northwest coast
Australian ski fields are covered in the first layer of snow for the season as a chill sweeps across the country’s southeast.
While many in eastern Australia woke up to the coldest day of the year on Monday, the highlands in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania woke up through Monday to snow falling as low as 700m.
One of Australia’s most popular snowfields along the New South Wales-Victoria border, Thredbo saw snow fall on ski lifts and pack snowfields two months before the start of the ski season.
The cold snap comes at the same time as a tropical cyclone, Isla, is brewing off the northern coast of Western Australia, bringing heavy rain to the coast.
On Monday, the mercury reached a low of 0.7°C in Canberra, Adelaide and Hobart reached minima below 10°C and Melbourne and Sydney were just above 10°C.
Snow has fallen on the mountains (pictured) two months before the opening day of the ski season thanks to a cold spell hitting southeastern Australia with wet weather expected
Thredbo, which hosts about 850,000 guests on the slopes each year, is “getting ready for another massive snow season” after the snowfall.
“From June 10 and running through October 2, 2023, Thredbo looks forward to welcoming guests back to enjoy Australia’s best skiing and snowboarding,” said a statement from the company.
Sky News meteorologist Rob Sharpe said wet weather should follow the cold snap and continue into the week ahead.
“There is also patchy frost mainly covering the elevated terrain (of Australia) through Monday and Tuesday morning,” he said.
“We will see much of Australia drying up. Still showery in eastern Victoria and central parts.
“There is a line of wet weather moving into western Tasmania.”
Massive swells also battered Sydney on Monday with winds from the coast forcing the Bureau of Meteorology to warn residents about activities such as fishing, boating or swimming.
One of Australia’s most popular snowfields along the New South Wales-Victoria border, Thredbo (pictured), is ‘getting ready for another huge snow season’ after the snowfall