A series of strong cold fronts is set to move through southeastern Australia, bringing a notable drop in temperatures and widespread snow showers as winter comes to an end. Sarah Scully, a senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, mentioned that the region will face an extended period of rough weather. “We have a series of fronts and troughs that will continue to sweep across the southeastern parts of the country, bringing a burst of wet and windy weather,” Scully said. This weather pattern marks a shift from the recent record heat, creating a stark contrast in conditions.
The strongest of these systems is expected to arrive on Friday and Saturday. It will pull cold air directly from Antarctica and push it north into central and northern Australia. This event is likely to bring significant snowfall, especially to the alpine resorts in Victoria and New South Wales. Forecasters predict snow accumulations between 50 and 80 centimeters, with higher elevations possibly receiving up to one meter of fresh snow from Wednesday afternoon to Saturday.
A notable aspect of this event is the low snowfall levels. The forecast indicates snow may fall at unusually low altitudes. Tasmania could see snow as low as 300 meters, while Victoria and New South Wales might experience flurries at 600 and 700 meters, respectively. In Victoria, snow is expected in areas like the western Grampians and the Macedon Ranges, with a chance it could reach the Dandenong Ranges in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Central tablelands in New South Wales, including areas as far north as Orange, are also under a snow forecast. Temperatures in the Australian Alps, which include popular resorts like Falls Creek, Mount Buller, Mount Hotham, and the Snowy Mountains, are likely to drop below freezing from Thursday to Saturday, creating perfect conditions for heavy snowfall.
A rare event is also likely for South Australia. The Bureau of Meteorology has suggested a light dusting of snow could occur in the Flinders Ranges, about 200 kilometers north of Adelaide, and even in the Mount Lofty Ranges, east of the city. Scully noted that this kind of snowfall hasn’t happened in these areas since 2022. There is also a chance of snow covering the summit of Kunanyi/Mount Wellington in Hobart, Tasmania.
The first cold front began to move into New South Wales on Wednesday, pushing up the coast in the afternoon. A second system closely followed, entering southwestern Victoria with strong winds. A minor trough is expected to form on Thursday, ahead of a stronger front and a potential low-pressure system on Friday and Saturday. Scully pointed out that these fronts will alternate with brief periods of clearer weather, providing short breaks from the persistent wet and windy conditions.
This sudden change in weather patterns signals a notably cold start to spring for much of the country, including some tropical areas. Temperatures are predicted to be up to 12°C below the average for this time of year. This is a stark contrast to the consistently high sea surface temperatures noted in Australia’s northeast, southeast, and southwest. Last month, these temperatures were over 0.56°C above average, making it the warmest July since 1900. Worldwide, sea surface temperatures for July ranked as the third warmest on record. The Bureau of Meteorology reported that warmer oceans can lead to “increased moisture and energy, which can worsen the severity of storms and rain systems.”
While the current cold fronts are bringing extra wet and windy weather, Scully confirmed that no further significant rainfall was expected for the northern tablelands region of New South Wales, which has recently suffered from severe flooding. She described this as a “massive relief,” given that a flood warning for the Namoi River in that region was still active on Wednesday afternoon. As of Wednesday, severe weather warnings for damaging winds were in effect for areas near Geelong, throughout the eastern ranges in Victoria, and in southeastern New South Wales, highlighting the immediate dangers linked to the ongoing weather event.
