Snow is on the way, as one state continues to wake up to some of the coldest mornings this year.
The countdown is on at Mt Buller with two weeks until the ski season kicks off as parts of Victoria receive snow flurries, according to Mt Buller Resort’s Rhylla Morgan. “It’s great to have this early snow and it’s come right on time,” Ms Morgan told Sky News Australia.
Sky News meteorologist Alison Osborne said Australians can expect the mornings to be colder over the next few days.
Some towns recorded minimum temperatures below average on Sunday, including Dubbo which recorded -1 degrees.
Canberra residents had a chilly start to Sunday recording 1 degree, while Perth and Hobart each recorded 6 degrees.
People rugging up as the cold weather sets in. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard
Meanwhile, it was a slightly warmer Sunday morning in Sydney and Melbourne with both recording 8 degrees, while Brisbane and Adelaide hit 9 degrees.
Ms Osbourne said the ranges and elevated terrain can expect cooler temperatures over the coming days, with snow very much on the forecast.
“Showers are continuing over the rangers and slopes and a cooler westerly change will punch over the coastline but most areas will expect to remain dry otherwise,” she said.
“Damaging wind warnings remain in place across New South Wales’ Snowy Mountains including Perisher and Thredbo, just with some gusty winds over elevated terrain expected to hover around 1100m mark at the ski resort level.
Sky News meteorologist Alison Osborne says NSW is recording its coldest mornings in NSW so far this year. Picture: Sky News Weather
The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts winds will average 80 to 90 km/h, with peak gusts in excess of 125 km/h are possible for alpine areas above 1900m from late Sunday night.
Winds are expected to ease below warning thresholds by early Monday afternoon.
Ms Osbourne said the snow could fall from Sunday afternoon into Monday morning as the cold front continues to form in the southern regions.
“A high pressure system will push in from the west and that clears conditions with winds still from south to south easterly aspect,” Ms Osbourne said.
“That means it‘ll be cold, it’ll be clear and it’ll be cold.
“This cold front stars to generate some showers this afternoon (Sunday) over South Australia by tonight, showers and small hail over those border regions towards western Victoria.
“Now the system then pushes through to the Melbourne area with showers intensifying by tomorrow morning and snow levels dropping with the temperatures.”
Cyclists enjoy a crystal clear winters morning at centennial Park, Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard
Bushwalker alerts remain in place for parts of Tasmania, as warnings continue for low level snow on Sunday and Monday.
“Bush walkers are advised that snow as low as 700 metres is expected late Sunday evening, lowering to 500 metres on Monday,” the bureau warns.
“These hazardous conditions are expected to occur in parts of the Western and Central Plateau forecast districts.”
Ms Osbourne said the snow is “going to be quite widespread” across Tasmania.
“It’s going to snow particularly in levels of 700m down to 400m in Tasmania, which could disrupt transport in some southern areas,” she said.
Meanwhile, Western Australia residents can expect heavy rainfall in the coming days.
“Over the next few days we could see some the heaviest rain in a few years for June over the Exmouth Gulf and potentially some pockets of the western Pilbara including Exmouth and Karratha,” Ms Osbourne said.
Perth will reach a top of 17 degrees on Sunday.
The bureau also forecasts widespread frosts across coastal NSW and Victoria on Wednesday