‘Winter wonderland’ sets up week of snow, hail, rain for millions

Heavy snow has turned parts of the country into a winter wonderland, with more snow, hail, rain, and winds expected around Australia this week.

Parts of the country saw their best rain for the year last week, with the Bureau of Meteorology’s Angus Hines saying a “nice follow-up” was on the way.

A strong cold front will hit southern Western Australia and South Australia today, bringing showers and hail, Hines said in the Bureau’s weekly forecast.

Showers are expected to ease today across the national southeast with falls of 2mm to 10mm, while northern Australia has returned to a typical dry season weather pattern.

There was 20cm of fresh snow overnight at Perisher in NSW, bringing the storm’s total to more than 40cm.

Snow is forecast to continue through today and the rest of the week.

Tomorrow, Hines said, cold air and patchy falls of rain were expected across New South Wales, South Australia, and southern Queensland, with falls of 2 mm to 10 mm again over broad areas.

“This will clear on Wednesday, although cold winds and patchy showers continue,” Hines said.

“This means further sporadic and light wet weather for most places south of a line from Perth across to Port Macquarie.”

Things will clear up further on Thursday for most of the country, though rain is possible in eastern Victoria and New South Wales, along with some snow showers.

Hines said more showers and cool winds were expected on Friday in the south-east, with thunderstorms possible but uncertain at this point.

“And yet another rain-bringing front is just dusting its shoes by the door of the west coast heading into next weekend,” he said.

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