Sydney: A sweeping cold front has delivered some of the rarest and most extensive snowfall in recent Australian history, blanketing towns across eastern New South Wales and southern Queensland. From the highlands to regions unaccustomed to frost, communities woke up to a winter wonderland, while emergency services battled severe weather-related incidents.
The Northern Tablelands in NSW, including towns such as Armidale, Guyra, and Glen Innes, recorded snow depths reaching up to 40 cm conditions not seen in nearly four decades. Further north, Queensland’s Southern Downs region was astonished by snowfall in towns like Stanthorpe, Dalveen, and Warwick marking the first such event in over ten years.
This rare winter event triggered a wave of emergencies. The New South Wales State Emergency Service (SES) responded to more than 1,400 calls, many involving stranded vehicles, power outages, and hazardous road conditions. Over 25,000 homes lost electricity as heavy snow and strong winds took down power lines. In one tragic incident, a woman was swept away by floodwaters while attempting to drive through a submerged road emergency teams continue to search for her.
Meteorologists say the snowfall was triggered by an intense polar air mass moving northward from the Southern Ocean. The Bureau of Meteorology emphasized the unusual breadth of the event, with snow observed in areas typically considered too warm or too low in elevation to experience such weather. The storm system also brought torrential rain and flash flood warnings to coastal and inland regions, from Coffs Harbour to Tamworth.
Even as the snow created joyful moments for families and tourists in alpine towns such as Perisher and Thredbo, authorities urged caution. Treacherous roads, black ice, and flooding posed serious risks to travelers. The SES advised residents to avoid non-essential travel and to remain alert for updated weather and safety advisories.
Experts have noted that while snow in parts of southeastern Australia is not unusual during winter, the scale and timing of this event reflect shifting climate dynamics. The convergence of polar air with moist systems from the Tasman Sea created a perfect storm one that Australians will remember for years.
As skies begin to clear, communities across the east are left navigating the dual impact of beauty and disruption a frozen landscape draped in wonder, but underpinned by danger and damage.