Snow in Australia

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Kanangra-Boyd National Park in the Blue Mountains

Snow in Australia is rare at sea level, but is common on the highlands of the southeast, in the states of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and in the Australian Capital Territory. Snow has been recorded in every state and territory, though among the state capitals only Canberra, Hobart and Melbourne have recorded snow. However it is much more common in the regional areas, with the cities of Orange and Ballarat featuring annual snowfalls and populations of over 40,000 and 100,000 respectively.

Snow sports are well established in Australia's south-east and Tasmania, though climate change has substantially reduced natural snowfall and opportunities for snowmaking at Australian resorts, particularly at the lower elevations, representing a threat to the viability of Australia's ski industry.

The Antarctic oscillation (AAO) is the primary driver for snow in Australia, where a negative phase allows cold airmasses off the Roaring Forties to push further north. The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) also play a role, though mainly in rainfall; there is a strong reduction in alpine snowfall during years of El Niño coupled with +IOD phases. Non-alpine and low-lying areas however tend to benefit from El Niño, as they are much more reliant on cold air than rainfall.

Alpine areas

Australian Alps (mainland)

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Snow over Thredbo Top Station, July 2011

In southern New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and eastern Victoria, the elevated regions of the Snowy Mountains, Brindabella Range and Victorian Alps experience an alpine climate, where the areas above are subject to a consistent winter snowpack. Heavy snow normally occurs to around , especially on the western side of the ranges, while lighter and more sporadic snowfalls occur to most years.

Kiandra, Cabramurra and Perisher Valley receive an average of 47.5, 53.2 and 60.2 snowy days annually, respectively – elevations are , and in that order. For northern hemisphere comparison, Kiandra receives more annual snowy days than Toronto (41 days) and Harbin (45 days), with Cabramurra tying with Winnipeg (54 days) and Perisher Valley with Buffalo, New York (60 days).

In the Victorian Alps, Falls Creek, Mount Hotham, Mount Buller, Mount Baw Baw and Mount St Gwinear receive 61.2, 66.1 and 67.6 snowy days, respectively. Elevations are , , , and in that order. For northern hemisphere comparison, Mount Hotham receives slightly more snowy days than Syracuse, New York (65.5 days), and Mount Buller receives almost the same amount of snowy days as Warsaw (68 days).

Tasmanian Highlands

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Snowcapped Mount Wellington in July 2011

In Tasmania, mountainous areas receive heavy snow above every year, and due to its far southern latitude, this level frequently reaches and at times even in the south and west of the state. Mount Wellington which rises to is frequently covered by snow, at times even in summer, receiving 57.3 days of snow annually.

Butlers Gorge, Lake St Clair and Liawenee in the Central Highlands feature 27.1, 33.1 and 41.8 snow days a year, respectively. Elevations are , and in that order.

Regional towns and cities

New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory

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Snow at Orange railway station, June 2020

In the Central West, the major regional city of Orange receives an average of 3.9 snowy days per annum. There are many smaller towns in the region that receive snow on an annual basis, such as Blayney, Millthorpe and particularly Oberon which sees an average of 6.2 snowy days annually. The last snowfall in Cowra, a town of just , occurred in 2015. A freak snowfall had occurred in the Central West on 5 July 1900, bringing an impressive of snow to Mudgee, while Bathurst measured at in the main street.

Heading east to the upper Blue Mountains, in towns such as Katoomba, Medlow Bath, Wentworth Falls, Leura, Mount Victoria, Blackheath and Lithgow, 3–4 snowfalls per year are recorded. Being on the eastern side of the ranges, snow is confined to higher elevations due to the foehn effect, and it is extremely rare to see snow below Lawson.

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Snow in Canberra, July 2016

Snow is relatively rare in the Southern Highlands of the Illawarra due to its eastern location, though the last significant snowfall occurred in Berrima, Bowral and Mittagong in July 2015. In 1947, the Macquarie Pass road was covered in a dusting of snow. Further south in the nation's capital Canberra, it snows once every few years, though snowfalls are common in the Monaro region to the far south, in towns such as Cooma, Bombala and particularly Nimmitabel which sees eight snowy days annually.

Following the Hume Highway further inland, it snows occasionally in the regional city of Goulburn and in towns like Gunning and Yass. The northern and north-western parts of the region are substantially higher in elevation, with moderate to heavy snowfalls occurring most years in Crookwell and to a lesser extent Taralga. Going further inland to the South West Slopes, it snows regularly in the town of Batlow (and by extension Tumbarumba), with frequent heavy snow at Laurel Hill. In August 2019 there was snow on the ground in Tumut at , with reports of flakes as far north-west as Junee.

In western New South Wales, particularly in the Riverina, snow is observed to much lower altitudes than elsewhere in the state, being more exposed to cold south-westerly airmasses. Parkes, Forbes and Wagga Wagga, among others, have recorded snow on multiple occasions in the past, despite their very low elevation; snow has been observed to settle as low as in Albury, most recently in July 1966. Snow has been recorded on three separate occasions in Narrandera, , in August 1899, July 1901 and June 1908.

In northern New South Wales, snow is recorded once or twice every few years in Guyra, Armidale and Glenn Innes on the Northern Tablelands, and rather scantily, in Nundle (near Tamworth). Going further inland to Gunnedah, in the North West Slopes at just , the most recent snowfall occurred in 1984. In Dubbo, in the Orana region, it last snowed in July 1951 and 1920, with a heavy snowfall in July 1900. The far northern town of Inverell, and nearing the 29th parallel, last saw snow in August 1923, with an impressive falling in September 1892.

Victoria and Tasmania

Due to their latitude and exposure to cold south-westerly airmasses, snow regularly occurs to much lower elevations than in New South Wales, with some occurrences to sea level.

In the Gippsland region, the alpine areas of Mount Baw Baw and Mount St Gwinear are prominent snow destinations, both situated within the Baw Baw Plateau. Mount Baw Baw, at an elevation of approximately , operates as a small ski resort and typically receives reliable snowfalls throughout winter, with snow cover lasting from June to September in most years. Nearby, Mount St Gwinear (elevation ) is a popular location for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and family snowplay, offering similar snow conditions. These peaks experience snowfall driven by moist westerly and southerly airstreams funneled through the Latrobe Valley and Bass Strait, contributing to their relatively high snowfall rates despite their proximity to the coast. Their accessibility and frequent snow events make them significant contributors to Gippsland’s winter tourism.

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Snow over Ballarat in September 2020

In western and central Victoria it snows around once or twice a year in the major regional city of Ballarat, as well as in Kyneton and Strathbogie, while in Trentham it snows on 7.8 days per annum. Horsham and Hamilton have recorded significant snowfalls in 1882, 1888, 1901 and most impressively October 1910 (at Hamilton), with a few occurrences north to Bendigo.

In Victoria's North-East, Beechworth snows about once or twice a year, while the higher localities of Bogong, Tolmie and Woods Point receive 5.7, 8.7 and 7.8 snow days per annum, with occasional snowfalls in low-lying towns like Corryong. A heavy fall of snow was observed in Benalla on 31 May 1913.

In East Gippsland, the locality of Bendoc averages 14.7 snowy days per annum, while Omeo sits at 4.7 days. Unlike the rest of the state, this region receives the majority of its snow events from southerly weather systems off the Bass Strait (being largely sheltered from the west).

In southern Victoria and West Gippsland, there is a greater chance of late spring and summer snowfall, with an occurrence of snow on 25 December 2006 in the Dandenong Ranges, not more than in elevation. Snow to or less is not uncommon during winter, particularly on the Strzelecki Ranges in the deep south of the mainland. The former town of Aberfeldy averages 32.5 snowy days per annum at , making it the snowiest locality in mainland Australia, in addition to having more snowy days than northern hemisphere cities with colder winters like Boston (23.0 days), Chicago (28.2 days) and even approaching those of Minneapolis (38.2 days).

In Tasmania, towns nearer to sea level such as Queenstown, Zeehan, Oatlands, Bothwell and Rosebery feature around 2–3 snow days per year, with Erriba recording 8.6 days, Waratah in the northwest recording 9.5 snow days per annum, Strathgordon around 12.7 days, Tarraleah in the Central Highlands recording 14.1 snow days and Bronte Park also in the Central Highlands registering 17.6 snow days per annum.

South Australia and Western Australia

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Snow near Jamestown, South Australia in the Flinders Ranges, 1994

Snow has fallen in the hill suburbs of Adelaide (Adelaide Hills), with the last major snowfall in July 1951, and the Perth region (Perth Hills around Kalamunda, Roleystone and Mundaring, with the most recent snowfall occurring in 1968 and in 1956). In the Flinders Range, snow has been recorded in the Wilpena Pound and at Blinman, with the last significant snowfall being recorded in August 2020.

The Stirling Range (near Albany) records snow every year, as it is the only mountain range far enough south and sufficiently elevated in Western Australia. More rarely, snow can fall on the nearby Porongurup Range, with the last significant falls in October 1992 and June 1956. The most widespread low-level snow in Western Australia occurred on 26 June 1956 when snow was reported in Wongan Hills and Salmon Gums.

Queensland and the Northern Territory

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Snow in Stanthorpe in 1925

In the Northern Territory, light snow last fell on Uluru on 11 July 1997, being the most northerly verified snowfall in Australia (nearing the 25th parallel).

The Darling Downs and Granite Belt in South East Queensland occasionally receive snowfall in winter, with heavy falls being recorded in 1960, 1974, 1984, 2007 and 2015. Snow has been reported on the higher parts of Toowoomba on several occasions, with the recent event being in July 2015. In Stanthorpe, light snow is occasionally recorded, with the most significant snowfall in over 30 years occurring on 17 July 2015, where fell there and nearby areas that day. Ballandean in south-east Queensland also saw snow that day.

The most northerly occurrence of snow in Queensland was on the Bunya Mountains, just below the 27th parallel. In July 1965, 'snow' was alleged as far north as Eungella, near Mackay in tropical Queensland, however this was more than likely an occurrence of small hail.

Sea level snowfall

Tasmania

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Snow in Hobart, August 2015

Whilst snow at sea level is a very rare occurrence in mainland Australia, it is more occasionally recorded in southern and south-western Tasmania, where it occurs on a near-annual basis during the winter and early spring months. Sea level snow has even been recorded in November (2021, on Bruny Island). It is much rarer on the east coast of Tasmania due to being leeward of the snow-bearing westerlies (save for the far south).

Launceston in the north-east receives snowfall on the rare occasion, with snow falling in 1951, 1986, 2015 and 2020. Dover, a coastal town in the southern fringe of Tasmania, features 2.3 snow days per year. In the Hobart central business district, the last major snowfalls occurred in 2015, 1986 and 1921.

Victoria and South Australia

Snow at sea level in Melbourne last occurred in August 2005, in the Melbourne's southern suburbs near Mornington Peninsula. Though Melbourne central business district has not recorded snow since 1986.

In South Australia, there are two known occurrences of snow in Mount Gambier, only above sea level, in 1951 and 1932.

New South Wales

The lowest known snowfall in New South Wales had occurred in the town of Hay on 24 July 1936, just above sea level in the far west of the state.

In Sydney, 'snow' was last alleged on 28 June 1836, where British settlers in Hyde Park claimed to have woken up to "snow nearly deep" – However, after a fall of graupel in July 2008, the Bureau of Meteorology had doubted the 1836 'snow' account, stating that observers in that era lacked the technology to distinguish snow from soft hail. Furthermore, melting snow (or sleet) was observed in the Sydney area in 1951 and 1986, though the Bureau also doubted those events had 'true' snow.

Climatology

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Spencers Creek average snow depth chart from Snowy Hydro

In 1973 temperatures remained too warm, while in 1982 it was too dry for much of a snow season. However, some other years have abundant snow – the Bureau cites 1981 as an example. The unpredictability of Australian snow conditions was highlighted in 2006 when severe drought and a poor snow season gave way to a "White Christmas" and abundant snow falls in the alpine regions of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania and even a low-level snowfall on 25 December in the Dandenong Ranges on Melbourne's north-eastern fringe.

Low altitude and recent susceptibility to high pressure ridging; as well as seasonal (early spring) dust storms in the Simpson Desert depositing red dust on the ranges (causing less UV reflection and therefore faster melting), keep the snow season relatively short (June–Oct). Heavy snow can fall however, at any time between April and December in the Australian High Country, with areas like Mount Dandenong receiving snow in December. In New South Wales, a heavy natural snow season can see a base of up to in August, at an elevation of at Spencer's Creek, (near Charlotte Pass). Typically, depths will be lower than this.

Climate change

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Satellite image of unusually massive snow cover over the Southern Tablelands, June 2019

Australia's ski resorts are located near the top of some of the highest mountains in Australia, and there is therefore little scope to relocate to higher, colder areas if the existing ski fields become too warm.

The Australian snow season varies from year to year. However, observations in 2024 show a declining trend in maximum snow depth within the past 70 years, with a downward tendency of about 0.4–0.6 cm per year since 1954. This is a result of increasing temperatures and decreasing cold frontal systems in winter. 2023 had a weak snow season owing to the remarkably warm and wet conditions from June to July, and drier from August to September with extreme positive anomalies in monthly mean temperature. Since 1950, the Australian Alps' annual average temperature has risen by around 1.4 degrees Celsius.

See also

• Skiing in Australia
• Climate of Australia
• Weather extremes in Australia
• Effects of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation in Australia
• Geography of Australia