Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology

 
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Cold front impacts for south-east Australia due to ease today

24/08/2022

Issued: 4pm Wednesday 24 August 2022

A significant cold front crossed south-east Australia over the past couple of days, bringing very cold air, showers, thunderstorms, gusty winds, small hail and snow to low levels.

On Tuesday, the snow level dropped as low as 300 metres across parts of Tasmania and 500-700 metres across the mainland, with some even lower elevations experiencing snow flurries including Armidale.

Snow was seen around suburbs of Canberra (ACT), the central and eastern Victorian ranges, the Mt Lofty Ranges and Mt Remarkable in South Australia and elevated parts of Tasmania including kunanyi/Mt Wellington, the NSW Central Tablelands, including Orange, Oberon and the Blue Mountains, where some roads (including the Great Western Highway) were closed due to snow and black ice.

Isolated locations further north, such as Barrington Tops and Guyra, also saw light snow falls.

Temperatures dropped below zero across parts of Tas, inland Vic, inland NSW, and southern Qld.

Significant overnight minimums included:

  • -7.4 ºC at Perisher Valley (NSW),
  • -6.7 ºC at Falls Creek (Vic),
  • -6.3 ºC at Canberra Airport (ACT),
  • -4.2 ºC at kunanyi/MtWellington (Tas)

The front has deepened into a low pressure system off the NSW Central and Mid North Coasts, causing a few showers some larger swells around the coasts today. A Hazardous Surf Warning is current.

This system will rapidly move away across the Tasman Sea today bringing wet and windy conditions to Lord Howe Island. A Severe Weather Warning is current for damaging winds and surf over Lord Howe Island from this evening.

The cold front brought rainfall over, NSW, Vic and Tas with the heaviest falls over the Gippsland ranges in Vic and western parts of Tas. The highest recorded totals in the 24 hours to 9am included:

  • 38 mm at Lake Margaret (Tas)
  • 35.4 mm at Henty Canal (Tas)
  • 31.2 mm at Mt Baw Baw (Vic)
  • 29 mm at Mardi Damand Carrowbrook (NSW)

Flood Warnings are current for numerous rivers across NSW, Vic, Tas and southern Qld for Minor Flooding.

  • Moderate flooding is occurring in the Macquarie River downstream of Burrendong Dam.
  • River rises may reach the moderate flood level in the Bogan and Murrumbidgee Rivers over coming days.
  • Some catchments may remain in flood for some time to come.
  • The Flood Watches for NSW and Victoria have been finalised.

A high-pressure system will push in across eastern Australia on Thursday and Friday, bringing clear skies and light winds that will result in cold starts to the day. Extensive frost is likely inland, particularly around the ranges.

Showers will ease over the south-east on Thursday, with generally settled weather expected Friday and over the weekend.

Communities are advised to stay up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings via the Bureau's website and BOM weather app and follow the advice of emergency services.