Polar blast bringing winter snow to south-east

Australia’s alpine regions can expect bursts of snow this week, with polar surges bringing wintry cold fronts to the country’s south.

The south-west of Western Australia, including Perth, has already had a taste, after two cold fronts in rapid succession on Sunday and yesterday brought winds of more than 100km/hr and quick showers of rain to the region.

The current cold front, moving swiftly, is set to move across South Australia and into Australia’s south-east today, the Bureau of Meteorology said yesterday.

Now, further forecasts have revealed another cold front is coming to the south of the country, and it’s bringing snow.

The Bureau said yesterday the current cold front could bring bursts of snow to alpine Victoria today, along with strong winds and rain in lower-lying areas.

Adelaide is first in the firing line, with BoM forecasting maximums of 13 and 14 degrees on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

“The airmass will likely be cold enough for snow in SA’s Flinders Ranges later on Wednesday, should sufficient moisture make it that far north,” Weatherzone’s Anthony Sharwood wrote.

“A snowflake or two could even fall on the 710m summit of Mount Lofty, just 25 minutes’ drive from the Adelaide CBD.”

But Weatherzone forecast the heaviest falls of snow for Thursday in the alpine regions of NSW and Victoria.

Totals of 20cm to 40cm are anticipated, with snow falling at elevations as low as 800m.

Outside the mountains, Weatherzone said, elevated areas like the NSW Central Tablelands could also expect falls.

Melbourne is set for a maximum of 12 degrees on Thursday, compared to 17 for Sydney and just 8 for Canberra.

Minimum temperatures at the national capital are also expected to dip below zero later in the week.

Weatherzone said conditions should “moderate” on Friday and Saturday – but warned of the potential for another polar air surge across the south-east next week.