Icy winter blast brings bumper snowfall

MELBURNIANS should prepare for a cold, wet and miserable weekend with rain, hail and the chance of a thunderstorm forecast. But it’s good news for our snowfields.

AN icy winter blast is set to hit the state, dumping a bumper snowfall over the next few days.

It’s going to be miserable in Melbourne with rain and possible hail, but it’s good news for the Victorian Alps, which could see up to a metre of snow over the next four days.

Mt Hotham has already had 63cm of snowfall with more powder expected across alpine regions.

WINTER BRINGS COLDEST MORNING OF YEAR

WHAT VICTORIANS CAN EXPECT THIS WINTER

HOW MELBOURNE’S WEATHER IS FORECAST

A snow storm at Hotham Alpine Resort has left 63cm. Picture: Twitter

The bureau is predicting another 25cm to 50cm of snow is expected to fall until early Monday, senior forecaster Michael Efron said.

“It’s going to be really good conditions up there in terms of forming a good base for the season,” he said.

Temperatures are also expected to stay below freezing in alpine areas with Mt Hotham and Mt Buller at -2C.

A severe weather warning for damaging winds has been cancelled but strong winds are still expected for southwest of the state.

There might even be snowfall in the Grampians and Mt Macedon.

But Melbourne will get mainly showers this afternoon and evening with a chance of a thunderstorm and even possible hail.