Forecasters predict that the long weekend of the King’s birthday may be the snowiest place in Australia’s ski season in years.
By Tuesday night, snowfall up to 70 cm may accumulate in high-end resorts, at least 15 cm to 30 cm at low resorts, WeatherZone said.
WeatherZone meteorologists say Australia's huge savage front will move overnight and bring snow.
Jonathan's Meteorological Bureau said southeastern Australia could expect "very cold" and windy conditions over a three-day weekend.
Melbourne is expected to have its highest level of 15 degrees Celsius on Saturday, below 6C on Monday. The agency said Sydney's weekend should be mostly sunny and there might be a possibility of showers, with expectations of 19 degrees Celsius on Saturday followed by 8C on Monday.
On Friday, South Australia and southwestern Victoria issued severe weather warnings. Rainfall is expected to destroy record drought in the region.
Destructive winds on Friday could exceed 90 km/h, affecting parts of Victoria, including Otway Ranges and Mornington Peninsula. Gusts are expected to increase and enter South Australia on Friday afternoon, reaching Adelaide and the Mountains.
The agency said strong winds will continue through Victoria and SA on Saturday.
The coldest weather will reach the second cold front, and the front will likely arrive at SA on Sunday morning, bringing thunderstorms and hail. Adelaide's forecast height was 17 degrees Celsius on Saturday, with a lowest point of 6C on Monday.
On Friday, Melbourne will not be affected by destructive winds, but the city will experience strong wind chills and showers, and will also reach the Yara Valley and the Macedonian Mountains.
The cold front will enter southeastern New South Wales on Friday night.
Black ice warnings will pose risks during weekends in NSW and Victoria. "If you're going to snow this weekend, be careful if you're going to the hillside."
Snowfall showers in Victoria and the NSW Alps are expected to drop to 1.5 billion by Friday. Snow levels will drop further to about 1.15 billion on Saturday.
He said he expects snow accumulation between 30 and 70 cm around the alpine ski resort, with the possibility of transfer to lower areas. "We might even see some snowstorm conditions on some of these high peaks," he said.
Snow levels in Victoria and New South Wales are expected to drop to 800m on Sunday, and snow levels in western Victoria, including Grampians, will drop to 900m.
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In Tasmania, snowfall levels are expected to drop to 1,000m on Saturday. Hobart will be cold as low as 4C on Sunday and up to 15 degrees Celsius on Saturday.
Although it starts to snow during the ski season, Australia is expected to be a warm winter.
David Karoly, professor emeritus of the University of Melbourne and the Australian Climate Council, said there is clear evidence that snow accumulation has decreased and the length of snow seasons due to global warming.
“This is long-term warming due to climate change that burns fossil fuels,” he said.
Carloli said last year's snow season was similar to this year, with relatively good early snowfall, but due to high temperatures and low snowfall, there was insufficient snowfall throughout the season.
He said the impact of climate change with Australian and global emissions and the new world record for climate pollution in 2024 will result in a sustained decline in snow cover and snow season lengths until at least 2050, which is the current target date for net zero emissions.
“At that stage, even if the snow at the resort is caused by snow, there are few commercially viable ski areas in Australia,” he said.
He said strong countries like the United States lack action to reduce their emissions, and the Australian government has expanded its Northwest Shelf PAS project, "nearly impossible to meet its commitment to zero emissions by 2050".