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Cold front brings best snowfall to southern Queensland in decades Cold front brings best snowfall to southern Queensland in decades
(about 4 hours later)
Towns in southern Queensland have seen their best snowfalls in more than a decade, while large dumps of snow have caused road closures in New South Wales. A blast of cold weather has given towns in southern Queensland their best snowfall in more than a decade but caused chaos in New South Wales, leaving thousands without power and closing dozens of schools.
Related: Snow in Australia: share your photos and stories with usRelated: Snow in Australia: share your photos and stories with us
In Queensland, falls of up to eight centimetres were recorded in Stanthorpe and nearby Eukey overnight, sending residents scurrying outside in their pyjamas to take in the scene. The snow was expected to linger in shady areas until about 10am. In Queensland, falls of up to eight centimetres were recorded in Stanthorpe and nearby Eukey overnight, sending residents scurrying outside in their pyjamas to take in the scene.
Yew! RT @AshtonRigg: There is snow in @Queensland.snow in QLD! http://t.co/8YJ5KDGWoo pic: Higgins storm chasing pic.twitter.com/wMqxsWu5rVYew! RT @AshtonRigg: There is snow in @Queensland.snow in QLD! http://t.co/8YJ5KDGWoo pic: Higgins storm chasing pic.twitter.com/wMqxsWu5rV
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Sam Campbell said it had been years since that much snow was seen in the area.Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Sam Campbell said it had been years since that much snow was seen in the area.
“Since midnight we’ve seen snow falling steadily around the Stanthorpe and Eukey area with some widespread covering of snow, about several centimetres deep,” he told the ABC.“Since midnight we’ve seen snow falling steadily around the Stanthorpe and Eukey area with some widespread covering of snow, about several centimetres deep,” he told the ABC.
He said there was only a slight chance of more snow on Friday morning, with the cold air mass that produced the falls moving towards the coast.
White July. Snow blankets southern Qld, most in a decade http://t.co/jTXRrj7Z0s via @EllieSibson @fiddyr @gordeyfuad pic.twitter.com/VKAjJgJW05White July. Snow blankets southern Qld, most in a decade http://t.co/jTXRrj7Z0s via @EllieSibson @fiddyr @gordeyfuad pic.twitter.com/VKAjJgJW05
Snowing in Blackheath. 10-15cm so far. Trains cancelled. Don’t risk driving. @702sydney @smh @7NewsSydney pic.twitter.com/wD0borDgIJSnowing in Blackheath. 10-15cm so far. Trains cancelled. Don’t risk driving. @702sydney @smh @7NewsSydney pic.twitter.com/wD0borDgIJ
Stanthorpe local Michael Hilton said he was in awe at what he saw when he ventured outside just after 3am.Stanthorpe local Michael Hilton said he was in awe at what he saw when he ventured outside just after 3am.
“I missed the 1984 snow. I’ve never ever, ever seen anything like this in my life. It’s just like a winter wonderland,” he told the ABC.“I missed the 1984 snow. I’ve never ever, ever seen anything like this in my life. It’s just like a winter wonderland,” he told the ABC.
In New South Wales, snowfall that closed roads in several parts of the state was expected to stop by the end of Friday. However, in NSW wild weather and heavy snowfalls have led to more than 20 road crashes, left thousands without power and closed about 50 schools.
Both the Great Western Highway and Bells Line of Road were closed on Friday morning, leaving no way for motorists to travel between Sydney and Lithgow. Chief Superintendent Simon Locke said the snow was causing major problems for emergency services.
“Snow, ice, strong winds and heavy rain are making for treacherous conditions for NSW Ambulance paramedics to respond to patients,” he said.
Paramedics have responded to more than 20 car crashes since 5am on Friday with the education department listing 48 schools shut due to the weather.
Up to 2,200 homes and businesses in the Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands are still without power and are not expected to be reconnected until late on Friday.
The towns of Blackheath, Bowral, Berrima and Katoomba are among those hit by the power outages.
Power has been restored at more than 6,000 premises in snow-coated parts of NSW.
Road closures are in place in Sydney, Lithgow, Bathurst, Katoomba and other areas in the Blue Mountains.
Both the Great Western Highway and Bells Line of Road were closed in the morning, leaving no way for motorists to travel between Sydney and Lithgow.
Tobogganing in Blackheath #snow pic.twitter.com/WVs7dRh0k9Tobogganing in Blackheath #snow pic.twitter.com/WVs7dRh0k9
Authorities have advised motorists in the south and west of NSW to delay all non-essential travel, with parts of the Hume Highway closed in the southern highlands, while the New England Highway in the north-east was closed between Glenn Innes and Armidale. The Hume highway has partially reopened after being shut because of snow and ice on the road. But traffic authorities are still advising people to avoid the major highway between Sydney and Melbourne if possible, with several trucks broken down with iced brakes.
The southbound lanes of the Hume Highway were closed near Bowral at 4am on Friday, while one lane of the northbound side was also shut. Traffic was reportedly backed up for 20km, the NSW transport department said. Just one lane of the highway is open in each direction near Bowral, in the NSW southern highlands, and traffic is backed up for about 12km.
The Bureau of Meteorology says snowfalls in Bowral, Mittagong and Katoomba in the Blue Mountains were expected to stop by the end of the day, with no snow predicted for the rest of the week. The New England Highway in the north-east was closed between Glenn Innes and Armidale.
The Bureau of Meteorology said snowfalls in Bowral, Mittagong and Katoomba in the Blue Mountains were expected to stop by the end of the day, with no snow predicted for the rest of the week.
“The system that’s causing it, the low that’s sitting off the Illawarra coast, will move east. By tonight there will be no further snowfalls outside of the ranges.”“The system that’s causing it, the low that’s sitting off the Illawarra coast, will move east. By tonight there will be no further snowfalls outside of the ranges.”