Snowfields worse for as polar snap summons damaging winds

Polar air has plunged large parts of Western Australia into a late-winter freeze as the Australian ski slopes are warned of wild weather ahead.

Snow settled onto the Stirling Ranges on Thursday morning as a frigid polar air mass moved from Antarctica onto Australia.

Video taken from atop Bular Mial, or Bluff Knoll, showed a heavy dusting of snow amid heavy winds and a thick blanket of clouds.

Perth recorded a minimum temperature of just 3.7C on Friday as the eastern states prepare for a weekend of inclement weather.

The NSW ski slopes, including the Thredbo resort area, were warned to expected wind gusts up to a whopping 130km/h late on Friday.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned that the wild weather could continue into Saturday morning, with similar warnings issued for Victoria.

The central ranges east to the Alps, out to the Otways, Surf Coast, and the Mornington Peninsula, are warned to expect damaging winds.

The north to northwesterly weather system coming ahead of an approaching cold front has dashed hopes for a late-winter snow boon.

Weatherzone revealed on Friday: “The Australian ski season that started so promisingly is no longer in such great shape.

“While the picture is grim for resorts at low altitude and the lower slopes of the main resorts, conditions remain reasonable in higher areas.

“Australia‘s two highest resorts Perisher and Thredbo both still have most of their lifts open.

“Victoria’s two highest resorts Falls Creek and Hotham are doing OK too.”

Further south, Tasmania is being warned to expect wind gusts up to 100km/h in the northeastern and southern districts of the state on Saturday.

Hobart, meanwhile, will skirt the worst of the weather with a maximum of 15C over the weekend amid 20-30km/h winds.

While wet and windy on Friday, Melbourne will reach just 14C over the weekend with some chance of further rain.

Sydney, off the back of a dry start to winter, is forecast to likely receive between 2-7mm of rain on Sunday.

The Harbour City will reach a maximum of 21C on Saturday with winds up to 25km/h.

Canberra and Adelaide will both reach a maximum of just 15C over the weekend, with a chance of rain in the nation’s capital on Saturday.

Perth will gain a reprieve from the cooler conditions, with a top of 21C forecast for Sunday.

Brisbane will meanwhile reach a balmy 24C over the weekend, with Darwin forecast to stay stable at 33C.