Late winter snow falls on ACT and NSW regions days out from spring

Parts of NSW and the ACT are coated in snow and experiencing one of the coldest days in recent years, with warnings of possible blizzards and avalanches.

Oberon, NSW covered in snow

Oberon, NSW covered in snow Source: Stringer

Spring may be just around the corner, but it feels a long way off in parts of New South Wales and the ACT currently covered in snow.

The Snowy Mountains, Orange, Oberon, Blue Mountains and surrounding areas are coated in snow, as well as some part of Canberra.
Oberon NSW covered in snow
Oberon NSW covered in snow Source: Stringer
The Bureau of Meteorology said on Saturday the weather was from very cold and windy conditions associated with a series of cold fronts and troughs moving over the country's southeast.

About one metre of snow has already fallen in the Snowy Mountains region, with more expected over Saturday and easing on Sunday, BOM manager for NSW and the ACT Agata Imielska said.

Ms Imielska said residents in affected areas should be mindful of road closures and worsened driving conditions.

She said such snowfall was common for the Snowy Mountains region but certainly unusual in for Canberra, Orange and surrounding areas.

On Saturday the maximum temperature expected in Canberra was seven degrees though Ms Imielska said wind chill would make it feel sub-zero.

"It is very cold and for Canberra likely to be possibly the coldest winter in five years," she said.

Ms Imielska cautioned snow lovers keen to ski outside resort areas to check the conditions and ski to their ability, citing a risk of blizzards and avalanches.

She also said there was a potential for thunderstorms and hail over the Snowy Mountains region on Saturday evening.


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