Winter blast brings record chill, rare snow to southern Australia
Snow was reported in parts of Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales, while record lows were set in Hawker, Whyalla, Yongala, and Port Augusta.
Cold air and snow has turned parts of southern Australia into a winter wonderland this week.
The chill set new record low temperatures across several regions in south Australia, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Records for the lowest daily maximum temperature were broken on Thursday in several locales including Hawker, Whyalla, Yongala, and Port Augusta. The bureau expects more temperature records to be established on Friday.
Snow covering the Willow Springs Station in the Flinders Ranges. Photo: Skytrek Willow Springs Station.
Meanwhile, it was also cold enough for rare snow to fall on parts of Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and the Flinders Ranges on Friday. It converted the red outback desert into a winter wonderland. Snowfall accumulations, estimated to be about 2 centimetres, blanketed areas around the northern Flinders including Blinman. Light snow was also reported on Mount Remarkable.
Videos posted to Storyful by Skytrek Willow Springs Station show snow covering the red desert around the outback station. Staff told Storyful snow has been seen on the top of the nearby hills before but never has so much accumulated in the valley.
Thumbnail courtesy of Skytrek Willow Springs Station.
Sources: Storyful | Australian Broadcasting Corp.