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Decent spring snow on the way

Ben Domensino, Monday September 21, 2020 - 17:18 AEST

A series of cold fronts could bring around 20-40cm of fresh spring snow to some of Australia's ski resorts this week.

While the snow has been steadily melting in the Australian alps during the last few weeks, a burst of wintery weather is about to top up the snow base.

The first two in a series of cold fronts will pass over southeastern Australia between Monday and Wednesday. The air will become progressively colder in the wake of these fronts, with Perisher's maximum temperature expected to drop from 13 degrees today to six degrees on Tuesday and just two on Wednesday.

As the mercury drops, snow will start to reach lower levels across the nation's southeast. Snow could fall to around 1300 metres elevation in Victoria on Tuesday and about 1000 metres on Wednesday. The snow will stop a couple of hundred metres higher in NSW on both days. All up, there could be 5-10cm of fresh snow on the ground in parts of the alps by Thursday.

Later in the week, another stronger cold front will surge across southeastern Australia on Thursday and Friday. This front and an associated low pressure system will inject a large mass of very cold air across Victoria and NSW, causing more widespread and heavier snow.

Image: Forecast 850hPa air temperature showing cold air spreading over southeastern Australia on Saturday.

Forecast models suggest that around 20-30cm of snow could fall across the mainland alps on Friday and Saturday, with more possible, before tapering off on Sunday. The air will also be cold enough for snow to reach lower than 1000 metres.

This week's snow will be accompanied by very strong and dangerous winds at times, so be sure to check for severe weather warnings if you plan on visiting the mountains to see the spring snow.

- Weatherzone

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