New South Wales covered in snow. Australians in shock

It’s winter in Australia. Still, no one expected New South Wales to be buried under a thick layer of snow. While some residents embraced the white frenzy, others are suffering from power outages and transport disruptions. Once again, the weather is breaking all the rules.

Snowy weekend in Australia

On Saturday, a low-pressure system swept over New South Wales, bringing cold air and heavy snowfall. In many cities in eastern Australia, snowdrifts reached 40 cm. The last time such a phenomenon was recorded here was in the 1980s. Light snow was also seen in Queensland, but it didn’t settle – says Helen Reid, a meteorologist with the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).

Residents of the cities hit hardest by the winter anomaly – Guyra, Armidale, Uralla and Walcha – experienced a generational shock. Entire families spent Sunday building snowmen and having snowball fights. At night, thermometers showed an unusual -3°C, whereas average August temperatures in New South Wales typically range between 8–10°C.

Brendan Gough traveled from Queensland just to see the snowy landscape with his own eyes. “I’ve never seen snow in my life,” he admitted in an interview with the BBC. Meanwhile, a report by ABC News captured kangaroos hopping through snowdrifts – likely just as surprised as the people.

Winter complicates life

Meteorological extremes, however exciting, often come with serious infrastructure consequences. In New South Wales, the heavy, dense snow paralyzed road traffic. News.com.au reports that over 200 vehicles were trapped in the drifts. A statewide power outage affected 20,000 households, and technical crews worked all weekend to fix the issue. Mobile networks were down as well, and many roads were closed due to icy surfaces. New South Wales was cut off from the world.

This morning, regional rescue services (NSW SES) reported that the snow is beginning to melt. Most roads have reopened, but drivers are urged to use extreme caution. According to power provider Essential Energy, 6,000 homes are still without electricity, and repairs could take several more days.

Australian winter refuses to let go

In other parts of the region, the weekend storm brought heavy rain and gale-force winds – according to ABC News, Carey’s Peak recorded as much as 323 mm of precipitation. Rivers overflowed, and flash flooding occurred in the Hunter Valley. A 26-year-old woman was swept away after fleeing a car being carried by the floodwaters. She has yet to be found. Many other vehicles were submerged, and roads remain impassable. Emergency services responded to over 900 incidents.

For today, BOM is forecasting very strong coastal winds. The low-pressure system will move out to sea, threatening the eastern islands of Norfolk and Lord Howe – waves could reach up to 5 meters, causing severe beach erosion. Residents are advised to stay indoors and away from windows. The warning remains in effect until tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile, flood alerts are still active on the Hunter and Namoi Rivers in New South Wales. Residents in select riverside districts of Gunnedah and Newcastle have been advised to evacuate. At least until Wednesday, boating and approaching rocky cliffs should be avoided. The weather continues to set the terms.

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main photo: Glenn Crouch/Flickr