The first snowfall of the Australian winter has arrived at ski resorts in New South Wales and Victoria, bringing a welcome boost ahead of the official season opening. A low-pressure system swept in on Tuesday night, depositing several centimetres of snow on alpine areas.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Thredbo, Perisher and Charlotte Pass in NSW recorded a few centimetres of snow on Tuesday night, with more forecast for Wednesday. Perisher's four resort areas—Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes, Guthega and Blue Cow—all received snow. The coldest temperature recorded was at Thredbo Top, which dropped to -1.9°C.
In Victoria, the main ski resorts of Falls Creek, Mt Hotham and Mount Buller also experienced snowfall on Tuesday night. Heavy snow was reported in alpine regions of Tasmania, including Hobart's Mt Wellington, where the temperature was -0.2°C with wind gusts of 104 km/h, creating a freezing wind chill.
The snowfall comes a month before the official 2016 opening weekend for the skiing season, offering encouragement for a good season ahead. However, the cold snap did not extend to major cities, with Sydney and Melbourne enjoying mild temperatures of 19°C and 18°C respectively on Wednesday, while Brisbane reached 23°C.
