29 May 2019

Winter has come: ACT shivers through polar blast

| Ian Bushnell
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A winter wonderland in Namadji National Park. Photos: ACT Parks and Conservation.

The ACT is in the grip of a cold snap that has brought snow to higher areas, and given the Territory its coldest May day since 2000 on Monday when the mercury could only reach 9.1 degrees Celcius.

The polar blast is set to continue all week with a succession of cold fronts. The Weather Bureau is warning of damaging winds averaging 60 km/h with peak gusts of 90 km/h about the Southern Tablelands, Southern Highlands (Illawarra) and parts of the Snowy Mountains district.

The winds will be even stronger in the Alpine areas, averaging 80 to 90 km/h with peak gusts in excess of 125 km/h, with blizzard conditions. That’s great for the Snowy Mountains resorts, gearing up for the start of the ski season next month.

ACT Parks and Conservation posted these very cool pictures of the snow in our neck of the woods on its Facebook page.

“Game of Thrones is finished but winter is only just beginning in the bush capital! Keep an eye out for white walkers if you’re out in the Namadgi highlands and be aware Mt Franklin Road is closed at Bendora Arboretum gate. Please take care and drive to the conditions,” it says.

Today it only reached 9.5 degrees in the capital and relief will not arrive until Friday. Showers, and more snow up high, will continue on Wednesday with a top of 10, while the Thursday will have more sun but only reach 12.

Friday is expected to be 16 but it will be a frosty start at -3.

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Can the ACT govt make money out of 90km/h wind gusts in 60km/h zones?

Capital Retro8:44 am 30 May 19

As very few read the Canberra Times these days many would be unaware of their headline yesterday referring to an “Arctic Blast” driving the cold snap. As one letter to the editor stated this morning “this would be real proof of climate change”.

At least RiotACT has had two bob each way by using “polar” (blast) which can be either Arctic or Antarctic.

Capital Retro11:06 am 29 May 19

I expect Minister Rattenbury will now declare the “Climate Emergency” now over?

Bring back Global Warming!

HiddenDragon6:37 pm 28 May 19

Wonderful images there, but on the subject of shivering, some Canberrans will be doing a lot more of that than others, thanks to our still rapidly rising electricity costs – double digit (in percentage terms) increases over the last year for the daily supply charge, off-peak and regular tariffs.

Perhaps it’s time for a bit more public transparency and scrutiny about the extent to which electricity prices are a form of indirect taxation revenue for the ACT Government.

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