By Alexander Darling
Victoria’s ski slopes will officially open this weekend for the start of snow season, but the Bureau of Meteorology says the conditions won’t necessarily be ideal for skiing.
Conditions were too dry for a dusting over Victoria’s alpine areas on Wednesday, but bureau community information officer Patch Clapp said snowfall would really kick off from Friday.
A jogger runs with her dog at Carlton’s Princes Park on the first day of winter.Credit: Chris Hopkins
Credit: Matt Golding
“Over the course of Friday to Tuesday, at least 20 to 30 centimetres of snow should accumulate at the alpine resorts for the first weekend of the snow season, with snow possible generally every day from Friday to Tuesday,” he said.
“Weather conditions over the weekend will not be great for snow sports. Successive cold fronts and a low-pressure system will lead to a wet and windy long weekend.”
Cold snap incoming
Duty forecaster Dean Narramore said even though the temperatures and weather forecast were standard for June, it would likely feel colder for Victorians who had become used to unseasonal warmth in May.
“The main cold front is going to come through Saturday night and sweep across Victoria,” he said.
Snow season officially kicks off this King’s Birthday long weekend.
“Temperatures will drop to a few degrees below average, so it means day-time highs around 10, 11 or 12 [degrees] in the south – some places probably only the high single figures.”
The mercury reached 20 degrees in Melbourne on Monday, just shy of the record maximum temperature for June (21.8 degrees) set on June 8, 2005.
Police and authorised officers will again be conducting checks on vehicles that head to the snow this season.
“Last year, 1471 vehicles were turned back at Mt Hotham alone for failing to carry legally required wheel chains, placing themselves and others at serious risk on icy roads,” police said in a statement on Wednesday.
Police will station officers conducting the checks across key routes into alpine resorts including Mt Buller, Mt Hotham, Falls Creek, Mt Baw Baw, Lake Mountain and Mt Stirling.
Failing to carry chains may result in a $395 fine, while failing to fit them when required may attract a $988 penalty.
Ambulance Victoria also issued a cold weather-related warning on Wednesday, urging people to make sure they were up to date with their COVID-19 and flu vaccinations.
Paramedics said seasonal illnesses were now on the rise, and colder temperatures increased the risk of injury and illness, especially for older people.
“Simple things like a fall in the bathroom or a faulty heater can quickly become serious,” said the executive director for regional operations, Danielle North.
“Now’s the time to check that your heating is safe, that rugs and cords aren’t trip hazards, and that walkways are clear and well-lit. A few small steps can make a big difference.”
Rain relief for south-west
Narramore said that after an “unbelievably dry” past year, south-west Victoria could expect anywhere between 25 and 50 millimetres of rain between Saturday and Tuesday.
“To go further north, Horsham might be around that 15 to 25 millimetres, and then once you get up to around the Ouyen area, 10 to 15, and then maybe five up along the Murray,” he said.
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