31 May 2022

Last day of autumn sees massive snow dumps with 100 km/h winds forecast

| Claire Fenwicke
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Fresh powder has blanketed the Perisher snow fields with no sign of letting up on the last day of autumn.

The resort reported 20cm of snow overnight with conditions ideal to keep the snow guns pumping.

“Snow hasn’t stopped falling this morning with the forecast showing over 70cms to come over the next week,” a spokesperson said.

“Temperatures are plummeting to minus three degrees throughout today and forecast to drop to minus six degrees on Wednesday morning, making it the coldest week of the year to date and ideal for the team to make snow.

“Our teams will be making snow at every opportunity to set the resort up for a fantastic opening day on 11 June.”

Snow has also fallen down to Thredbo Village, while Selwyn Snow Resort reported 12cm overnight.

A huge storm has hit Perisher on the last day of autumn, delivering 20cm overnight. Photo: Perisher Resort.

Damaging winds with gusts reaching up to 100 km/h have been forecast to sweep across Canberra and southeast NSW today, with everyone urged to monitor conditions.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) says it’s due to a deep low-pressure system over the southwest Tasman Sea that will “maintain a vigorous westerly flow” across the region on Tuesday (31 May) and into Wednesday. A second low pressure system moving into eastern Bass Strait will strengthen winds over Alpine and southern coastal NSW during Wednesday morning.

Gusts up to 110 km/h are possible on exposed higher ground.

The warning area covers most of the Southern Tablelands, the ACT, South Coast and Snowy Mountains regions. Damaging winds are possible on and east of the ranges in southern parts of NSW from early tomorrow (Wednesday) morning, with conditions expected to ease on the south coast by the evening.

Blizzards are likely in areas above 1,800 metres, and possible above 1,200 metres. The National Parks Service of NSW has recommended people postpone back country travel until conditions improve.

READ ALSO Police warn snow fun can turn risky on the roads

The BOM is predicting possible afternoon thunderstorms across southeast NSW – including Goulburn, Braidwood, Cooma and Eden – with snow falling down to 800 metres. Gusty winds of about 30 to 45 km/h are predicted to accompany the storms on the coast.

There’s the chance of hail for Canberra and Braidwood tomorrow, with strong winds set to continue throughout southeast NSW. We could also see powder sprinkling the Brindabellas, with snow fall predicted to 700 metres.

The BOM’s warned saturated soils in the region mean there’s an increased risk of gusty winds that could topple trees and powerlines, particularly in the hills.

The State Emergency Service advises people should:

  • Move vehicles under cover or away from trees
  • Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony
  • Keep at least eight metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences
  • Trees that have been damaged by fire are likely to be more unstable and more likely to fall
  • Report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid (131 388), Endeavour Energy (131 003), Essential Energy (132 080) or Evoenergy (131 093) as shown on your power bill
  • Stay vigilant and monitor conditions, noting the landscape may have changed following bushfires
  • For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 132 500

A severe weather warning for damaging winds has been issued into Wednesday (1 June). Photo: BOM

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Capital Retro11:38 am 31 May 22

ABC TV News is eagerly reporting these totally normal seasonal conditions as “wild weather”.

I suppose that is better than “unprecedented”.

Capital Retro1:49 pm 01 Jun 22

Not to be upstaged, SKY News is showing speeded up video of the snow and wind to scare us.

The media are getting a lot of mileage out of the totally false “climate crisis” that has been foisted on us by the renewables industry.

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