Incredible pictures show Aussie towns blanketed in snow as millions issued stark warning
A powerful polar blast has delivered a shivering start to winter across Australia's southeast, dumping snow on alpine regions and sweeping icy winds as far north as Queensland, while coating parts of regional New South Wales and Victoria in white.
Pictures emerging from regions like Cooma and Canberra show cars buried, fields dusted in snow, and roads turned to ski runs. Thredbo and Perisher have recorded upwards of 40cm of fresh snow — some of the most significant early-season falls in recent years — as freezing air rushed in from the Southern Ocean.
In NSW, snowfalls were reported across the Central Tablelands, Blue Mountains, and Snowy Mountains, with residents waking to scenes more typical of Scandinavia than regional Australia.
"It's absolutely dumping," one Perisher local said. "We've had around 45cm already and it's still going."
In Cooma, locals shared extraordinary footage showing rooftops and front lawns blanketed in snow. "This is the most I've seen fall here in years," one resident posted online. In Orange, snow fell across Sunday and into Monday morning, with locals sharing videos of flurries drifting through town.
The Snowy Mountains lived up to their name, with conditions turning treacherous for two hikers near Mt Kosciuszko, who became trapped in whiteout blizzard conditions on Saturday. The 31-year-old man and 28-year-old woman activated an emergency beacon, prompting a major rescue operation.
"Due to the weather, including low visibility, a helicopter was unable to reach the pair," NSW Police said. "Officers from the Alpine Operations Unit hiked into the location and reached the man and woman about 10.40pm." The pair were brought to safety around 4am Sunday, both uninjured.
The ACT has also been swept up in the chill, with Canberra facing gusty winds, sleet and a maximum of just 8 degrees on Monday. Wind chill made it feel far colder, with apparent temperatures hovering close to zero in exposed areas throughout the day.
A very cold start to the morning as snow falls over the hills of Canberra.Monday 9th June 2025 8.00am#canberra #snow #ACT #Australia #winter pic.twitter.com/2xOpHfxdav
— Timothy Dean Photographer (@TimothyDeanAU) June 8, 2025
Police have reminded the public to drive cautiously on icy roads. "With recent heavy snowfalls impacting these roads, drivers need to be prepared for changing conditions. Please ensure your vehicle is roadworthy and well equipped with extra supplies should you become stranded in snowy conditions, as help can often be a long way away," NSW Highway Patrol said. People driving in the Snowy Mountains are required to carry chains and fit them when directed.
Icy blast and snow hit one state
'Treacherous': Six trapped in snow for days
Road warning over King's Birthday long weekend amid wild weather
Further south, Victoria copped a full-force blast of wintry weather, with more than 50cm of snow falling at Mt Hotham and motorists caught off guard. Six people remain stranded after becoming trapped in their vehicles by heavy snowfall on Saturday night.
At around 10.50pm, approximately 20 travellers were caught out by the snow while driving along the Blue Rag Range Track at Mount Hotham. The group was forced to spend the night in their cars as conditions worsened. By Sunday, Victoria Police and State Emergency Service (SES) crews had managed to rescue 13 of them.
Amid the difficult conditions, a man in his 40s sustained injuries when his vehicle rolled. A fire truck that had been sent to assist also became bogged down in the snow.
The remaining six people were unable to be rescued and had to endure temperatures that dropped to -4.3° degrees overnight. SES Regional Duty Officer James Boler described the rescue conditions as "pretty treacherous."
Our VICSES Bright and Falls Creek Unit volunteers are currently assisting @VictoriaPolice with the rescue of more than 20 people stuck in their vehicles near Hotham Heights, following more than 50cm of snowfall in the area over the weekend (1/3) pic.twitter.com/VJeO8ayq0Q
— VICSES News (@vicsesnews) June 8, 2025
Meanwhile, the sudden dump has kicked off a bumper start to the ski season, with Thredbo opening for skiing and launching its winter festivities. Visitors flooded the alpine village for the weekend, despite road warnings and icy conditions. "The vibe has been electric," a Thredbo spokesperson said. "It's been a dream opening weekend with fresh snow, music, and après ski events."
Weather warnings remain in place across higher parts of southeastern Australia as the system continues to push through, bringing strong winds, freezing overnight lows and dangerous driving conditions.
Authorities are urging anyone heading to alpine or elevated areas to plan ahead.
"Be prepared for extreme conditions. Fill out a trip intention form, carry a personal locator beacon, and check the forecast before heading out," NSW Police warned.
Despite the cold, many Australians are embracing the change of pace, particularly after years of inconsistent snow seasons.
As the snap continues to sweep the country's southeast, more snow is forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday in alpine regions, while cities like Sydney and Melbourne will feel the chill with strong southwesterly winds and icy nights.
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5 hours ago
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Incredible pictures show Aussie towns blanketed in snow as millions issued stark warning
A powerful polar blast has delivered a shivering start to winter across Australia's southeast, dumping snow on alpine regions and sweeping icy winds as far north as Queensland, while coating parts of regional New South Wales and Victoria in white. Pictures emerging from regions like Cooma and Canberra show cars buried, fields dusted in snow, and roads turned to ski runs. Thredbo and Perisher have recorded upwards of 40cm of fresh snow — some of the most significant early-season falls in recent years — as freezing air rushed in from the Southern Ocean. In NSW, snowfalls were reported across the Central Tablelands, Blue Mountains, and Snowy Mountains, with residents waking to scenes more typical of Scandinavia than regional Australia. "It's absolutely dumping," one Perisher local said. "We've had around 45cm already and it's still going." In Cooma, locals shared extraordinary footage showing rooftops and front lawns blanketed in snow. "This is the most I've seen fall here in years," one resident posted online. In Orange, snow fell across Sunday and into Monday morning, with locals sharing videos of flurries drifting through town. The Snowy Mountains lived up to their name, with conditions turning treacherous for two hikers near Mt Kosciuszko, who became trapped in whiteout blizzard conditions on Saturday. The 31-year-old man and 28-year-old woman activated an emergency beacon, prompting a major rescue operation. "Due to the weather, including low visibility, a helicopter was unable to reach the pair," NSW Police said. "Officers from the Alpine Operations Unit hiked into the location and reached the man and woman about 10.40pm." The pair were brought to safety around 4am Sunday, both uninjured. The ACT has also been swept up in the chill, with Canberra facing gusty winds, sleet and a maximum of just 8 degrees on Monday. Wind chill made it feel far colder, with apparent temperatures hovering close to zero in exposed areas throughout the day. A very cold start to the morning as snow falls over the hills of 9th June 2025 8.00am#canberra #snow #ACT #Australia #winter — Timothy Dean Photographer (@TimothyDeanAU) June 8, 2025 Police have reminded the public to drive cautiously on icy roads. "With recent heavy snowfalls impacting these roads, drivers need to be prepared for changing conditions. Please ensure your vehicle is roadworthy and well equipped with extra supplies should you become stranded in snowy conditions, as help can often be a long way away," NSW Highway Patrol said. People driving in the Snowy Mountains are required to carry chains and fit them when directed. Icy blast and snow hit one state 'Treacherous': Six trapped in snow for days Road warning over King's Birthday long weekend amid wild weather Further south, Victoria copped a full-force blast of wintry weather, with more than 50cm of snow falling at Mt Hotham and motorists caught off guard. Six people remain stranded after becoming trapped in their vehicles by heavy snowfall on Saturday night. At around 10.50pm, approximately 20 travellers were caught out by the snow while driving along the Blue Rag Range Track at Mount Hotham. The group was forced to spend the night in their cars as conditions worsened. By Sunday, Victoria Police and State Emergency Service (SES) crews had managed to rescue 13 of them. Amid the difficult conditions, a man in his 40s sustained injuries when his vehicle rolled. A fire truck that had been sent to assist also became bogged down in the snow. The remaining six people were unable to be rescued and had to endure temperatures that dropped to -4.3° degrees overnight. SES Regional Duty Officer James Boler described the rescue conditions as "pretty treacherous." Our VICSES Bright and Falls Creek Unit volunteers are currently assisting @VictoriaPolice with the rescue of more than 20 people stuck in their vehicles near Hotham Heights, following more than 50cm of snowfall in the area over the weekend (1/3) — VICSES News (@vicsesnews) June 8, 2025 Meanwhile, the sudden dump has kicked off a bumper start to the ski season, with Thredbo opening for skiing and launching its winter festivities. Visitors flooded the alpine village for the weekend, despite road warnings and icy conditions. "The vibe has been electric," a Thredbo spokesperson said. "It's been a dream opening weekend with fresh snow, music, and après ski events." Weather warnings remain in place across higher parts of southeastern Australia as the system continues to push through, bringing strong winds, freezing overnight lows and dangerous driving conditions. Authorities are urging anyone heading to alpine or elevated areas to plan ahead. "Be prepared for extreme conditions. Fill out a trip intention form, carry a personal locator beacon, and check the forecast before heading out," NSW Police warned. Despite the cold, many Australians are embracing the change of pace, particularly after years of inconsistent snow seasons. As the snap continues to sweep the country's southeast, more snow is forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday in alpine regions, while cities like Sydney and Melbourne will feel the chill with strong southwesterly winds and icy nights. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
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‘Treacherous': Six trapped in snow for days
Six people are still awaiting rescue after being trapped in their cars by heavy snow on Saturday night. About 20 travellers in cars became stranded on the Blue Rag Range Track on Mount Hotham about 10.50pm on Saturday. The convoy was snowed-in overnight into Sunday, when 13 people were rescued by Victoria Police and State Emergency Service crews. A man in his 40s was injured in the chaos, after his vehicle rolled, and a fire truck became stuck in the snow after being deployed to help. However, a further six were forced to stay behind, with the temperature falling to -4.3C overnight. SES Regional Duty Officer James Boler said the operation had been 'pretty treacherous'. Rescue vehicles have struggled to get through the snow, and specialised alpine units were being brought in, with the remaining travellers expected to be evacuated via sled. People in the stranded vehicles had food, water and protection from the elements, emergency services said. Dargo Highway Plains Road is closed due to the extreme conditions and is not expected to reopen until after the long weekend. More to come
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Miracle after man, woman lost in blizzard
A pair of hikers have been rescued from a dangerous blizzard in the shadow of Australia's tallest mountain, with shocking footage showing the treacherous conditions they faced. The 31-year-old man and 28-year-old woman became stranded in a blizzard below Mount Carruthers, about 3km from Mount Kosciuszko, on Saturday, with rescue efforts hampered by a 'white out' blizzard and strong winds. Alpine rescue staff from the SES and police had gone out to help the pair, along with paramedics and the police rescue squad. About midday on Saturday, the rescue party got within 1.2km of the stranded bushwalkers, but the extreme conditions forced them to turn back. Specialist emergency services were then forced to take over the search, and were finally able to reach the pair, who were unharmed, in the early hours of Sunday. About 10.30pm the specialist alpine police and SES crews hiked to the stranded pair. Footage released by police shows at least nine people trudging through darkness, as wind drives snow sideways. Just after midnight Sunday, the pair were escorted to a makeshift camp set up by rescuers, but the group had to wait there again as the Snowy River rose, and more strong winds and heavy snowfall inhibited their descent. Everybody got off the mountain about 4am Sunday, police said. The incident comes as the ski season officially kicks off in Australia's alpine regions. Monaro police Acting Inspector Andrew Woods said bushwalkers need to be prepared and should consult checklists such as the Think Before Trek guide. 'As we move into the snow season, it's vital that Kosciusko National Park users are properly prepared before venturing into alpine regions. 'It's highly recommended that park users monitor weather forecasts closely and continually as conditions change quickly. 'The use of the online National parks and Wildlife Services Trip Intention Forms and personal locator beacon is strongly encouraged.' The ski resorts at Mount Kosciuszko have received up to 30cm of snow since Saturday - the official start of ski season in Australia. In Victoria, more than 20 people became stranded in their cars about 10.50pm on Saturday near Mount Hotham. The convoy was snowed-in overnight into Sunday, remaining stuck for about 19 hours as more than 50cm of snow fell. A man in his 40s had minor injuries after his vehicle rolled, and a fire truck became stuck after being deployed to help. Rescue crews rode snowmobiles into the Blue Rag Range Track, near Dargo High Plains Road, with People in the stranded vehicles had food, water and protection from the elements, emergency services said.
