Winter has just begun, and to welcome the new season, there was a fresh dusting of snow in alpine areas over the weekend, such as Falls Creek and Mount Hotham. In fact, Mount Hotham actually had the coldest start to winter in Victoria, with temperatures dropping to -3.1°C on June 1. That rush of cold weather and snow is likely to continue this week, and will conveniently line up with the King’s Birthday long weekend! The ski season will officially begin around the resorts on Saturday, June 6, making this excellent timing for snow chasers. If you’ve been dreaming about seeing the snow, here’s what you can expect.
Snow forecast in Victoria this week
According to Weatherzone, heavy snowfall is likely to occur on Wednesday and Thursday due to a deep low pressure system and cold front, with a possible 20 to 40 centimetres of snow at higher elevations. Thursday and Friday look “especially chilly”, leading to ideal snowmaking conditions. So, even if Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate, the crisp nights in the lead-up to the long weekend will be ideal for making articifial snow.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast snow showers in alpine areas like Falls Creek, Mount Hotham, Mount Buller and Lake Mountain on Friday, with snow predicted in Mount Baw Baw on Saturday. Snow is not predicted to reach areas with a lower elevation, such as Mount Donna Buang, where the summit is only 1,245 metres above ground.
If you’d like to make a spontaneous trip to the mountains over the long weekend, keep an eye out for weather updates on the Bureau of Meterology website. Resorts like Mount Buller, Falls Creek and Mount Hotham also have snow cams, so you can see the conditions for yourself before you go. Plan ahead by checking websites like VicTraffic and VicEmergency for any road closures or safety warnings. Meanwhile, for more ideas about where you can see the snow, check out our guide here.