NSW hit by “unusual” one-in-20 year weather event as snow falls across the state

Shocking amounts of snow have been recorded a month into spring as an unseasonable polar blast smashes the state.

Perisher received 35mm of snow in the "unusual" weather event". Picture: Facebook

Spring has been put on pause as snow falls across New South Wales in a once-in-20-year weather event that sparked Sydney’s coldest November morning in 16 years.

“Snow this far into spring is pretty unusual, it‘s definitely the coldest it’s been since July or August,” Weatherzone spokesperson Felix Levesque said.

The NSW alps received a “healthy amount” of snowfall, with up to 60cm falling across some of its regions on Tuesday night according to Weatherzone.

Perisher received 35mm of snow in the "unusual" weather event". Picture: Facebook

Temperatures only reached a high of zero degrees at Perisher overnight, a rarity for November. Picture: Facebook

Perisher’s snowfields were blanketed by white powder as 35cm fell, leaving some to question whether the resort should open its lifts.

Sydney also shivered through its coldest November morning in 16 years on Wednesday, with a low of 11.1 degrees recorded on the coast, six degrees colder than the average temperature for the month.

The freezing temperatures were worse inland, 16 degrees colder than average for November, with the maximum temperature in Thredbo not exceeding -2 degrees after getting down to -6 degrees overnight.

“Orange only got to six degrees, Armidale was nine degrees, and it was only 11 degrees in Cooma, that‘s pretty freezing for November,” BOM senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said.

Some called for the skifields to be reopened so that residents could enjoy the snow. Picture: Facebook

A polar blast of freezing air from Antarctica is behind the snap snowfall and chilly temperatures.

“A cold front swept through on Tuesday and behind it has dragged up cold south to south-westerly winds,” Mr Narramore said.

The most unusual part of the spring snowfall according to Mr Narramore was the dusting of snow across Bathurst, Lithgow, Oberon and the Southern Tablelands that continued across Wednesday.

“These conditions are more typical of July than November,” he said.

The frosty weather is expected to continue for the rest of the week after reaching its coldest point on Wednesday, with a second cold front sweeping through.

“A secondary through is about to cross into Victoria and South Australia, bringing a renewed cool period and lingering cold days for Wednesday and Thursday, but by Friday and the weekend we should see conditions clearing,” Mr Levesque said.

A polar blast of freezing air from Antarctica is behind the snap snowfall. Picture: Facebook

Snow was also seen in Bathurst, Oberon and Lithgow. Picture: Facebook

“Thursday will be more like five to ten degrees below average, compared to the colder weather we‘ve seen, and it’ll be similar on Friday,” Mr Narramore said.

Sydney’s east is expecting a low of 10 degrees overnight meanwhile the western suburbs will wake up to a frosty eight-degree morning warming up to 20 degrees.

Typical November temperatures in the western suburbs are a 15-degree minimum and a 27.5 maximum, meaning that temperatures are expected to be “significantly cooler” than normal, according to the BOM.

Alongside the freezing temperatures, the BOM also warned that major flooding is expected at the Lachlan River over the coming days.

“It could get as bad as the major flooding event of 1952 on Friday,” Mr Narramore said.

Sydney’s east is expecting a low of 10 degrees overnight. Picture: Facebook

Major floods are expected near Forbes in coming days, with warnings that it could reach levels similar to the June flooding event of 1952. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Rainfall from the past week has caused the “renewed and prolonged” flooding along the river, combined with spills from the Wyangala Dam and inflows from the Boorowa River.

River levels were just below the major flood level on Wednesday night, sitting at 13.25m.

There have been 664 requests for assistance responded to by the NSW SES in the past 24-hours, including 29 flood rescues.

Cowra, Forbes, Nanami, Hillston and Jemalong are among the areas to be most affected.