Snow-making kicks off as mercury dips below zero

THE massive cold front sending us diving for winter woollies has dropped a healthy 4cm of snow on the slopes at Perisher. But wait — there’s more.

A blast of the manufactured snow is released as the real stuff provides a natural blanket at Perisher Ski Resort on Thursday.

THE massive cold front sending us diving for winter woollies has dropped a healthy 4cm of snow on the slopes at Perisher. And there is more forecast over coming days.

The temperature dropped to minus 3 degrees this afternoon and the snow-making team kicked off for the season.

Staff were quick to crank up the support system.

Visitors and staff check on the machine’s progress.

Celebrations at Perisher took all forms as the white powder drifted down.

“The entire Perisher community is super-excited about the early snowfall one month out from the opening of the season,” Perisher team staffer Joss McAlpin said.

In Sydney, the temperature was relatively balmy at 5pm at 22.2degC but fell sharply afterwards, leaving unprepared commuters shivering as the mercury headed south of 16.

Canberra was at 6.5degC just after 6pm, Goulburn even lower at 5.8 (and heading for 1 overnight) and even coastal Ulladulla was feeling it at 13.

Locals salute the sky and hope for a good season on the slopes.

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