Australia coated in rare snow as ‘Antarctic blob’ settles over nation
Some regions which suffered extreme bushfires last year now blanketed with first snow for 15 years
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Parts of Australia have seen a rare covering of snow after Antarctic winds reached the nation’s southeast coast.
Snowfall was recorded across New South Wales (NSW), Victoria, the Australia Capital Territory and the island state of Tasmania as locals ventured out to make the most of the spring weather.
“We’ve seen light snow make it to Canberra today, and yes even heard a few rogue flakes landed on Parliament House,” in the nation’s capital, the Bureau of Meteorology said in a Twitter post.
The bureau added that more than one metre (3.3 feet) of snow had fallen in a number of alpine regions, and the cold weather would likely remain for several days.
“It’s awesome,” Raj Kumar told the Seven Network after he had travelled from Sydney with his family to see the weather phenomenon in the town of Oberon in NSW’s Blue Mountains.
The same area had been under threat from the country’s extreme bushfires last year.
It comes as the country is impacted by the so-called ‘Antarctic blob’ – a large area of cold air that originated far south of Australia in the polar regions before moving upwards.
Earlier this week Jane Golding from the nation’s Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) told the country’s ABC news the deep low-pressure trough was creating “quite an unusual weather event” – with snow potentially falling below the marker of 500m below sea level.
“Re,” she said.
Additional reporting by agencies
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments