Australia’s alpine resorts are gearing up for their best July snow conditions in years, following a significant winter storm that delivered up to 15cm of fresh snow overnight. A cold front originating from Western Australia has swept across the southeastern regions, resulting in rain and snowfalls in both Victoria and New South Wales.
Residents of Mt Hotham awoke to over 10cm of new snow as temperatures dipped close to -4 degrees Celsius. According to Emily Smith from Mt Hotham, further heavy snow is anticipated, with expectations of an additional 20cm to 30cm by morning. Smith expressed optimism for the month ahead, noting that forecasts predict snow on nine of the next ten days, which bodes well for the snow season.
Other resorts also reported significant snowfall. Mt Buller recorded 6cm, while Falls Creek enjoyed 9cm and Mt Baw Baw was blanketed in 15cm, contributing to an average of 45cm across its runs. Perisher is looking forward to an extra 15cm to 30cm following its 10cm overnight accumulation, and Thredbo is set for similar conditions with another cold snap forecasted.
The beginning of July has brought promising conditions, with predictions suggesting that the strong snowfall will peak as a second cold front approaches the alpine area. Ski resorts across Victoria and NSW are supplementing natural snowfall with manmade snow to ensure top-notch conditions for the upcoming school holidays.
While the snowfall brings joy to holidaymakers, it also marks one of the coldest days in Melbourne this year, with locals bracing for temperatures struggling to reach 11 degrees tomorrow. As the weekend approaches, conditions are expected to moderate in both Victoria and NSW, creating a perfect environment for winter sports enthusiasts.