Snow-bearing cold snap to stay for the weekend as Mount Buller in Victoria blanketed by 40cm of snow

A massive cold front has blanketed the Australian southeast in icy temperatures and snowfall in some parts – and the cold snap is likely to endure for the weekend.

A cold snap has plunged large swathes of the Australian southeast into frigid temperatures – some regions blanketed in up to 40cm of snow – and there are signs it is likely to endure through to the weekend.

Parts of inland NSW have already experienced temperatures low enough to bring snow coverage, including the Central Tablelands towns of Oberon and Black Springs.

Images snapped by locals throughout Wednesday and Thursday show the town enveloped in a thick blankets of snow.

Extensive overnight snow over central NSW shown by satellite after skies cleared in the early hours of Thursday. Picture: Weatherzone

Snowfall in Oberon NSW as southeastern Australia is currently in the midst of a freezing cold snap, which is bringing down the max height of snowfall in some areas and bringing snow to other parts of the country that rarely experience such weather. Picture: Facebook

In Mount Buller, Victoria, local ski resort owner Rob Arvato told ABC News the snow was coming thick and fast.

“I reckon in the last 24 hours we’ve had in the vicinity of 35, maybe 40cm (of snow) on the upper mountain,” Mr Arvato said.

“As a kid growing up here on Mount Buller, I don’t recall ever skiing in early-mid June. You know, it was very, very rare. To have this sort of snowfall across Victoria this early is really, really encouraging” he said.

“We knew the front was coming, all the models were showing snow heading our way, so we always remained optimistic. Mother Nature delivered right on cue … it really is an amazing experience … it feels like you’re in Europe right now, it’s amazing!”

The forecast minimum temperatures for Friday morning. Picture: Weatherzone

BOM meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said “broad areas of high pressure” would bring cool mornings to large parts of southern Australia, keeping the cold trend going as Friday arrives.

“In New South Wales tomorrow, widespread morning frosts are on the forecast with morning fogs through the east,” she said.

“We area also likely to see hazardous surf conditions continuing for parts of the East coast, particularly for the Hunter and Macquarie Coasts with powerful southerly swells.”

Across inland parts of NSW, the BOM predicts lows of -1C, with Canberra reaching a staggeringly cold low of -4C. Picture: SES NSW

“For Sydney tomorrow, we’re heading for a shower or two and a top of 17C. After a frosty start in Canberra we’re heading for a partly-cloudy top of 13C.”

Across inland parts of NSW, the BOM predicts lows of -1C, with Canberra reaching a staggeringly cold low of -4C.

“Morning frosts across inland Victoria once again, then partly cloudy daytime conditions particularly through the south and west,” Ms Bradbury said.

Wangaratta is gearing up for a low of -2C, with Shepparton and Albury-Wodonga reaching similarly cold lows of -1C.

Down in Tassie, morning frosts and fogs will take hold of the state on Friday morning, with Launceston expecting the coldest low at 0C.

Originally published as Snow-bearing cold snap to stay for the weekend as Mount Buller in Victoria blanketed by 40cm of snow