A polar blast is expected to deliver up to half a metre of fresh snow at some of the nation’s ski resorts this long weekend – an encouraging start to Australia’s notoriously fickle ski season.

Snow is predicted in the alpine regions of Victoria and NSW over coming days, and could even fall in the Blue Mountains, Orange and Canberra, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Victoria’s snowiest day should be Sunday, followed by NSW on Monday.