Latest news with #snowfall
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Climate
- News.com.au
Snow-bearing cold snap to stay for the weekend as Mount Buller in Victoria blanketed by 40cm of snow
A cold snap has plunged large swathes of the Australian southeast into frigid temperatures – some regions blanketed in up to 40cm of snow – and there are signs it is likely to endure through to the weekend. Parts of inland NSW have already experienced temperatures low enough to bring snow coverage, including the Central Tablelands towns of Oberon and Black Springs. Images snapped by locals throughout Wednesday and Thursday show the town enveloped in a thick blankets of snow. In Mount Buller, Victoria, local ski resort owner Rob Arvato told ABC News the snow was coming thick and fast. 'I reckon in the last 24 hours we've had in the vicinity of 35, maybe 40cm (of snow) on the upper mountain,' Mr Arvato said. 'As a kid growing up here on Mount Buller, I don't recall ever skiing in early-mid June. You know, it was very, very rare. To have this sort of snowfall across Victoria this early is really, really encouraging' he said. 'We knew the front was coming, all the models were showing snow heading our way, so we always remained optimistic. Mother Nature delivered right on cue … it really is an amazing experience … it feels like you're in Europe right now, it's amazing!' BOM meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said 'broad areas of high pressure' would bring cool mornings to large parts of southern Australia, keeping the cold trend going as Friday arrives. 'In New South Wales tomorrow, widespread morning frosts are on the forecast with morning fogs through the east,' she said. 'We area also likely to see hazardous surf conditions continuing for parts of the East coast, particularly for the Hunter and Macquarie Coasts with powerful southerly swells.' 'For Sydney tomorrow, we're heading for a shower or two and a top of 17C. After a frosty start in Canberra we're heading for a partly-cloudy top of 13C.' Across inland parts of NSW, the BOM predicts lows of -1C, with Canberra reaching a staggeringly cold low of -4C. 'Morning frosts across inland Victoria once again, then partly cloudy daytime conditions particularly through the south and west,' Ms Bradbury said. Wangaratta is gearing up for a low of -2C, with Shepparton and Albury-Wodonga reaching similarly cold lows of -1C. Down in Tassie, morning frosts and fogs will take hold of the state on Friday morning, with Launceston expecting the coldest low at 0C.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Science
- The Guardian
Antarctic ice has grown again – but this does not buck overall melt trend
A new study shows that after decades of rapid decline, the Antarctic ice sheet actually gained mass from 2021 to 2023. This is a reminder that climate change does not follow a smooth path but a jagged one, with many small ups and downs within a larger trend. The research, published in the journal Science China Earth Sciences, showed that while the ice sheet lost an average of 142bn tonnes each year in the 2010s, in the 2021 to 2023 period it gained about 108bn tonnes of ice each year. The study focused on four massive glacier basins and concluded that the increase in the early 2020s was caused by greater snowfall, particularly in eastern Antarctica. Extreme snowfall events, due to the warmer atmosphere holding more moisture, are an expected effect of climate change. But Antarctica has been losing ice since the 1980s, and it would take about 50 years of snowfall at the increased level to get back to previous levels. More recent Nasa data suggests the snowfall trend observed in the report had disappeared by 2025, with precipitation dropping back to pre-2020 levels. As the Chinese researchers note, the pattern of Antarctic ice loss is 'a critical climate warning signal'. The situation is complex, and the process of developing a full understanding continues.
News24
4 days ago
- Climate
- News24
Snow, strong winds expected for already weather-battered Eastern Cape
A cold front is likely to bring strong winds and snowfall to the Eastern Cape. The front has already resulted in cold and wet conditions in the Western Cape. The icy conditions are expected to reach the Eastern Cape on Thursday. A cold front, which has resulted in icy and wet conditions in the Western Cape, will likely bring strong winds and snowfall to the weather-battered Eastern Cape. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned that the cold front will pass through the Eastern Cape on Thursday. The SAWS warned that strong to gale-force winds are expected over the interior of the Eastern Cape on Wednesday and Thursday. 'As the cold front passes … the surface high pressure system will extend its ridge behind it, resulting in cold to very cold conditions in places across the province from Thursday to Friday,' the SAWS said. Snowfall of between 1cm to 5cm can be expected over the northern high-lying areas on Thursday. Very rough seas, with wave heights reaching six metres, and strong to gale-force winds can also be expected in places along the Eastern Cape coast on Thursday into Friday. The SAWS has issued a Yellow Level 2 warning (high likelihood of minor impacts) for damaging winds in the Chris Hani, Joe Gqabi and Sarah Baartman district municipalities. The Raymond Mhlaba and Amahlathi local municipalities will also be affected. A Yellow Level 2 warning for damaging wind and waves has been issued between Plettenberg Bay and East London. In addition, a Yellow Level 1 warning for disruptive snow has been issued for the Senqu and Elundini local municipalities. The province is still recovering from severe weather and widespread flooding earlier this month, which left thousands displaced. The Eastern Cape provincial government confirmed that at least 100 bodies have been recovered across various districts. The SAWS warned that an intense cold front will bring icy conditions to the Western Cape and Northern Cape on Wednesday. The system is expected to bring heavy rainfall with a risk of localised flooding over the western parts of the Western Cape on Wednesday and Thursday. There will also be strong and gusty winds over the interior that may cause localised damage to structures and could uproot trees. Gale-force winds and rough seas, with wave heights between 5.5 metres to 7.5 metres, can be expected along the coastlines of the Northern Cape and Western Cape. The weather warnings in place are a Yellow Level 4 warning for damaging waves from Wednesday evening, a Yellow Level 2 warning for damaging winds on Wednesday, and a Yellow Level 2 warning for disruptive rainfall on Wednesday until Thursday morning. ALSO READ | 11 hours in a tree: Woman's harrowing survival story as Mthatha floods claim family members City of Cape Town Disaster Risk Management spokesperson Sonica Lategan said the City's Disaster Risk Management Centre is monitoring the impact of the severe weather. 'Thus far, the Disaster Operations Centre has received reports of wind damage in New Culture on Mew Way in Khayelitsha, as well as an overflowing canal in Vygieskraal. Officials have been activated to conduct on-site assessments,' she said. 'The roads around the city are incredibly wet, and visibility is poor, so we urge motorists to please slow down and drive with their headlights on,' Lategan added.
ABC News
4 days ago
- Climate
- ABC News
Glee at big snow dump as Victorian alpine resorts report best start to ski season in years
Victoria's alpine resorts are reporting their best start to the ski season in years. Overnight, Falls Creek received 37 centimetres of fresh snow, while Mount Hotham welcomed a 28cm dump. "It's still coming down heavily today," Falls Creek's field marketing manager Betony Pitcher said on Wednesday. "The top-up has the resort looking amazing for the school holidays. Ms Pitcher said it was great news for the Falls Creek community. "It's fantastic to see the support for all the local businesses flow through as we head into the busy school holiday period," she said. The latest snowfall means more terrain open ahead of the winter holiday season, including Ruined Castle, Scott chairlifts and family favourite Drovers Dream. At Mount Buller, more than 20cm fell in the past 24 hours. "We had a magical delivery that started yesterday afternoon," Mr Buller spokesperson Rhylla Morgan said. "I've been listening to the pitter-patter through my window through the night. "If you're thinking about coming up this weekend, this snow will have blown through and we'll have sunshine again," Ms Morgan said. "It's a really nice pattern of weather." While the weather conditions are ideal on the slopes, police are urging drivers to slow down and be prepared. In Victoria, all vehicles travelling to alpine regions during the snow season must carry wheel chains and fit them when instructed or face heavy fines. Victoria Police Detective Inspector Anthony Town said if drivers weren't comfortable in icy conditions, they should take a break. "Victoria Police implore the community to drive to conditions, slow down," he said. "It's also important not to feel pressured," Detective Inspector Town said. "If the road sign says 100kph it doesn't mean you have to travel at 100kph. "You can slow down and take your time. "It might take a little bit longer to get to where you're going, but at least you'll get there safely."
News24
4 days ago
- Climate
- News24
Cold front alert! SA Weather Services warns Mzansi to prepare for intense cold front
Winter is in full swing. The nights are longer while the days are chillier. The South African Weather Services has issued yet another urgent warning, just weeks after alerting the nation to hazardous weather conditions that tragically turned disastrous in the Mthatha region of the Eastern Cape. On Monday June 23, 2025 the South African Weather Services (SAWS) hosted an urgent media briefing regarding potentially dangerous weather conditions that could affect the region, particularly the western mountain ranges of the Western Cape and the Namakwa District of the Northern Cape from Wednesday to Friday, 25 to 27 June 2025. Senior manager of SA Weather Services, Rudzani Malala together with meteorologist and weather forecaster, Lehlohonolo Thobela have urged residents in the Northern Cape and Western Cape to prepare for a severe cold front that might bring snowfall, strong winds, and a lot of rainfall. According to Lehlohonolo, the cold front is expected to move through the provinces from Wednesday to Friday, with high-lying areas experiencing temperatures below 10°C, and rough sea winds with wave heights of 5.5 to 7.5 metres are expected to affect the coastlines. View this post on Instagram A post shared by South African Weather Service (@southafricanweatherservice) 'Heavy rainfall leading to possible localised flooding can be expected over the western parts of the Western Cape. There will also be strong to gale-force coastal winds and very rough seas,' he said. Motorists are also advised to be cautious and observe safety precautions as driving conditions could become dangerous due to wet and slippery roads with strong gusting winds over the interior predicted to uproot trees and cause potential damage to buildings. Read more | SAMA urges caution as flu cases surge and new COVID-19 variant emerges Thobela added that the Eastern Cape, which is already susceptible to weather-related effects, would be impacted as the system advances east, he emphasised that the main concern is the powerful, destructive winds that are predicted to blow through most of the province on Thursday. 'The key concern is the strong damaging winds expected across most parts of the province on Thursday, June 26, 2025. Interior winds are expected to pick up and spread over the remainder of eastern provinces on Thursday and Friday, 26 and 27 June 2025, with daytime temperatures dropping to the cold category,' he stated. Moreover, Gauteng residents are warned to anticipate a drop in temperature on Friday, persistent cold on Saturday, and a return to winter conditions on Sunday, however, no dangerous weather. 'It is just a drop in temperature; we don't have rainfall that is expected with the system,' he clarified.
