A polar blast has brought early snowfall to several Australian states, with the Bureau of Meteorology reporting snow at 'reasonably low levels' in Victoria. The cold front has moved across south-eastern parts of the nation, giving ski resorts an early start to the season.
Temperatures have been 2C to 8C below average across Victoria, Tasmania, southern New South Wales, the ACT and parts of South Australia. In Victoria, snow fell to around 400 metres in altitude, providing a 'winter dusting' for many areas.
Ski resorts have capitalised on the cold conditions by using snow guns to supplement the natural snowfall. Mt Buller reported that Thursday was the first day temperatures dropped to -5C, allowing their snow guns to produce snow effectively. Resorts including Mt Hotham, Falls Creek, Thredbo and Selwyn have also showcased their snow guns on social media.
For the rest of the country, average temperatures are expected. Sydney will see chilly mornings with lows of 9C to 11C and highs of 21C to 23C over the weekend. Melbourne will experience lows of 10C to 12C and highs of 16C to 17C. Inland Queensland and much of the Northern Territory will see temperatures in the mid-to-upper 20s.
