Australia has been hit by a wild mix of weather, with snow, hail, dust storms and dangerous winds sweeping across multiple states. Residents in parts of NSW and Victoria woke to the first snow of the year, with falls of up to 8cm recorded across alpine regions as temperatures plunged below zero.
Snow was reported across the Australian Alps, including ski resorts Falls Creek, Hotham, Perisher and Thredbo. Falls Creek manager Betony Pitcher said, “We’re thrilled to have received a very special delivery just before Easter, our first snowfall for 2026!” Snow was also reported as far north as Orange in the Central Tablelands.
The Bureau of Meteorology warned blizzard conditions could hit alpine areas on Friday, easing later in the day and into early Saturday. However, conditions are not expected to ease across the Illawarra, South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, South West Slopes, Snowy Mountains and the ACT, where cold temperatures, heavy rain and strong southwesterly winds are forecast.
Damaging surf is developing along central and southern coasts, driven by a vigorous coastal low off southern NSW. Damaging wind warnings are in place for southeastern NSW, with gusts along the South Coast and Illawarra forecast to reach up to 110km/h, and potentially 120km/h in exposed areas. Strong winds also fueled total fire bans and high fire risks in New England and Northern Slopes.
Meanwhile, NSW is cleaning up after wild storms battered parts of the state, toppling trees and blanketing suburbs in hail. The NSW SES responded to more than 400 call-outs, and more than 5000 homes in Sydney were still without power on Friday morning. In western NSW, Dubbo was hit by a powerful dust storm, with winds up to 115km/h toppling a crane. Queensland is dealing with major flood warnings, while Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle continues to batter Western Australia as a category 4 cyclone.
