Parts of Tasmania have been transformed into a winter wonderland on Christmas Day, with residents waking to a rare and magical summer snowfall. The unexpected white Christmas saw snow settling as low as 700 metres above sea level on Thursday morning, draping the summit of Hobart's iconic kunanyi/Mount Wellington in a blanket of white.
A Frosty Christmas Morning Down South
According to meteorologists at Weatherzone, the summer snow event occurred on Thursday, December 25th. Temperatures at the summit of kunanyi/Mount Wellington plunged to a chilly -1.4 degrees Celsius around 8:40 am, creating perfect conditions for the festive flurries. The spectacle was captured live by a webcam operated by the City of Hobart, providing a real-time view of the mountain's dramatic transformation.
In response to the sudden cold snap, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued a timely alert for bushwalkers, warning of hazardous conditions. "These hazardous conditions are expected to occur in parts of the Western and Central Plateau forecast districts," the BOM stated on Thursday, urging caution for those venturing outdoors.
A Once-in-a-Generation Event
BOM meteorologist Angus Hines confirmed the exceptional nature of the event. He revealed that the last time Australia recorded measurable snow on Christmas Day was 19 years ago, in 2006. "We asked our climate team to go back and have a look, and they reckon the last time that there was measurable snow on Christmas Day was 2006, which was also for southern-western Tasmania," Hines told Yahoo. He noted a little snow also dusted parts of southern Victoria on that same day in 2006.
The rare phenomenon sent a wave of excitement across social media, as Tasmanian residents rushed to share photos and videos of their snowy Christmas morning. One elated local wrote, "OH MY GOD, one of my lifelong dreams of experiencing an Australian White Christmas has FINALLY come true right now on this magical Christmas morning." Another shared, "What an incredible morning to wake up to — snow-dusted landscapes, crisp alpine air, and pure Christmas magic."
A Nation of Contrasting Christmas Climates
While Tasmanians were reaching for their winter coats, much of mainland Australia was forecast for a more traditional warm to hot Christmas Day. The nation experienced a dramatic split in weather conditions:
- Perth was set to swelter with a top of 40°C under mostly sunny skies.
- Brisbane was forecast to reach 33°C, with a chance of showers and a possible thunderstorm.
- Darwin also faced a warm and potentially stormy day, with a top of 32°C.
- Canberra expected a partly cloudy day with a top of 28°C.
- Adelaide saw early cloud clearing for a 25°C day.
- Sydney anticipated a top of 23°C with a possible shower.
- Melbourne was forecast for a cooler day with showers and a top of just 17°C.
The Tasmanian snowfall stands as a remarkable and picturesque exception to the typical Australian Christmas, creating a memorable holiday for those in the island state and capturing the imagination of the entire country.
