Snow, Cold Temps For Eastern Australia

SYDNEY — Winter has officially arrived for much of eastern Australia, with an icy blast bringing widespread snowfall and sending temperatures plummeting.

In New South Wales, the mercury is expected to dip more than 10 degrees below average for this time of year in some places and come close to breaking minimum temperature records for June.

Significant snowfall is expected across the state, including in the Northern Tablelands for the first time in almost six years.

A woman crosses the street during snowfall in Katoomba, New South Wales, June 10, 2021. (Steven Saphore/AAP Image)

“We’re also going to see fairly widespread snowfall across the ranges all the way up towards the Queensland border,” the Bureau of Meteorology’s Gabrielle Woodhouse said on June 9.

“Last time we saw widespread snowfall up through the Northern Tablelands was during an event in July 2015, so it is relatively unusual.”

Snow has already begun to fall in regional New South Wales, including in Orange in the state’s Central West and Oberon in the Central Tablelands.

Children gather snowballs at Echo Point Lookout during snowfall in Katoomba, NSW, June 10, 2021. (Steven Saphore/AAP Image)

Up to half a meter is expected to blanket the state’s alpine regions.

Strong winds and heavy rain forecast for the south coast later this week will add to the chill factor.

Snow is also likely in the Sunshine State, with temperatures in Queensland dropping up to 10 degrees below seasonal averages as well.

Snow-covered cars are seen on the Monaro Highway after sliding off the road in snowy conditions near Cooma, NSW, June 10, 2021. (Lukas Coch/AAP Image)

But it will feel even cooler than forecast, Meteorologist Pieter Claassen says.

The Granite Belt may be treated to a sprinkling of snow on June 9 and June 10 on peaks in the Stanthorpe region.

Tropical north Queensland hasn’t been spared either.

A crimson rosella is seen amongst shrubbery as snow falls in Katoomba, New South Wales, June 10, 2021. (Steven Saphore/AAP Image)

The New South Wales Origin team will feel slightly more at home for the series opener in Townsville on June 9, with temperatures to feel like 12 degrees at kick-off.

Victoria will also be blasted by the cold weather, but is facing damaging winds and potential flooding as well.

Wind gusts of up to 120km (74 miles) an hour are expected in some places and blizzard conditions are possible about the alpine peaks on June 9 afternoon and June 10 morning.

Cobargo resident Nathan Adams plays with his children Henry (left) and Imogen on a snow-covered playground in Nimmitabel, NSW, June 10, 2021. (Lukas Coch/AAP Image)

A severe weather warning for heavy rainfall is also current, with Warrnambool, Bendigo, Seymour, Maryborough, Ballarat, Geelong, Melbourne, and Traralgon in the firing line.

A flood watch has been issued for Gippsland and parts of northeast and central Victoria.

“It is likely that we’ll see those rivers responding to that significant amount of rainfall, the rivers may remain quite high for a number of days,” meteorologist Christopher Arvier said.

Snow-covered hills are seen near Cooma, New South Wales, June 10, 2021. (Lukas Coch/AAP Image)

Flash flooding is also possible across the state.

Tasmania is in a similar boat.

A severe weather warning for damaging winds is current for north-eastern parts of Tasmania, and a flood watch has been issued for the eastern half of the state.