Deep Lows Develop, Weekend Snow Looms – Snow Alert – Countdown To Winter
Snow was already falling in Falls Creek yesterday arvo Image:: Falls Creek/Hocking
Mountainwatch | Snow Alert
As you may have heard by now, things are cooling off in the mountains. Some resorts already have a dusting about the peaks, and down in Tasmania snow has coated the hills around Hobart, reminding us all that winter beckons.
So, with snow in the forecast, we thought we’d kick things up a gear by issuing the very first snow alert for 2015…
SNOW ALERT
Snow Likelihood rating: It’s looking favourable.
Filed: May 8 2015
The mainstream news is driving the hype machine, and yesterday afternoon there was talk of totals nearing one metre. We always get excited at the sound of any snow at this time of year, but we thought we’d better check-in with The Grasshopper to see what’s really happening.
“There’s going to be a definite feel of winter about the Aussie Alps over the next week,” The Grasshopper explained. “Over the next few days deep lows running south of Tasmania are going to keep westerlies screaming through Bass Strait. A cold front on Saturday will struggle against a ridge of high pressure lying north of the Alps, but a second front on Sunday will push through and it has a bit more cold attached to it. Through this period we can expect frequent showers and light rain with a freezing level that will by and large sit at or above 2000m. That means that any snow will mostly be limited to above 1800m, and it’s going to be a wet, sleety, messy affair. That said, I wouldn’t rule out 5 to 20cm of slush and you just know it’s going to get hyped up like the second coming.
Our models are backing snow. Keep an eye on the cams over the weekend to watch it happen Image:: Supplied
“The real cold change is going to come through from Tuesday night into Wednesday, when we’ll see freezing levels drop to near 1100m, which means we could see snow settle to 900m. That should open us up to 5 to 10cm in a south-westerly flow and from that direction, because it’s cold enough, it will likely be Baw Baw or Buller that put on the best show.
“Warmer temperatures are favoured to return in the second half of May, so I don’t hold out much hope for this snow sticking around, but it will be a beautiful sight nonetheless.
Are you in the mountains this week? Tag a #mountainwatch on your photos on Facebook and Instagram or email your shots to alexh@mountainwatch.com.
