Snow, rain, icy winds forecast as polar blast hits south-east Australia

Lead

A blast of polar air from the Southern Ocean is sweeping across south-eastern Australia, bringing snow, frost, and sharply colder temperatures to several states. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued forecasts for snow at low elevations, freezing conditions in southern Queensland, and icy roads as the cold front moves through.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from ABC Australia highlight the widespread impact of the cold snap. One story focuses on the snow and cold front moving through South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania, while another details the freezing temperatures and frost predicted for southern inland Queensland. A third report describes the snow that fell in Victoria, with Mount Baw Baw receiving 15 centimetres overnight. All reports attribute the conditions to a cold air mass originating from the Southern Ocean, which the BOM says is unusual for this time of year.

Key Claims

• Snow is forecast to fall as low as 500 metres in Tasmania, 600 metres in Victoria, and 700–900 metres in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory on Wednesday night and into Thursday, according to multiple reports from ABC Australia.
• A significant cold front is set to move through South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania from Wednesday afternoon into Thursday, bringing rain, small hail, snow, and brisk winds, as reported by ABC Australia.
• Mount Baw Baw in Victoria received 15 centimetres of snow overnight, according to a resort spokeswoman quoted by ABC Australia.
• Freezing temperatures are forecast for southern inland Queensland, with Stanthorpe expected to reach -1 degrees Celsius, as reported by ABC Australia.
• The cold air mass driving the snap is coming directly off the Southern Ocean between Australia and Antarctica, according to a BOM forecaster quoted by ABC Australia.
• Cold temperatures will extend as far north as the Northern Territory and Queensland, as reported by ABC Australia.
• Rain and showers are forecast for southern parts of Victoria and Tasmania on Thursday, with the possibility of small hail, according to ABC Australia.

Perspectives

The BOM's senior forecaster Jonathan How noted that while snow totals are unlikely to be large, the event could mark the lowest snow of the season for many areas. He described the temperature drop as a "short, sharp shock" compared to last week's unseasonably warm weather, which saw temperatures more than 10 degrees Celsius above average in some areas.

Resort managers at Mount Baw Baw welcomed the snow, with spokeswoman Sally Brook saying the cold ground is "exactly what we needed" ahead of the ski season opening. She advised visitors to fit chains due to treacherous road conditions.

BOM forecaster Angus Hines noted that while the cold snap is unusual for autumn, it likely won't set records, but could be the coldest weather in some time for many people. He also mentioned that the dry parts of southern Queensland are not expected to receive rain, which may be a concern for farmers in the region.

Motorists are being advised to take extra care on icy roads, as several areas have reported slippery conditions and snow at lower elevations than usual.