In the coming week, south-eastern Australia is set to experience a series of cold fronts that will bring regular snowfall to the Australian Alps, coinciding with the start of the ski season this King’s Birthday long weekend.
A weak cold front is projected to deliver light snow to the high mountains in New South Wales, Tasmania, and Victoria. The Bureau of Meteorology has indicated a slight possibility of snow on Wednesday for Victoria’s ski resorts, including Mt Hotham and Mt Buller, where temperatures could dip to a chilly -1°C. Similarly, ski areas in NSW, such as Perisher and Thredbo, may see some snowfall as well.
As the week progresses, temperatures are expected to plummet from Wednesday night into Thursday morning, potentially dropping to between -5 and -7°C in both the Victorian and NSW Alps. This marks the beginning of a significant snow period, with more substantial falls anticipated over the weekend, thanks to the arrival of two powerful cold fronts.
Forecasts suggest that from Saturday through at least Tuesday, snow is expected to accumulate daily in the mountains. On Tuesday morning, the cold front is likely to sweep over Victoria, with large cold air masses evident in satellite imagery moving toward the region.
While it remains uncertain exactly how much snow will fall during this period, early models predict that totals could range from 20 to 50 cm over four days, setting the scene for a promising start to the ski season in the Australian Alps.