Snow blanketed parts of the Central Tablelands this morning, closing several roads and causing a truck turnover.
Snow fell heavily around Oberon, forcing the closure of Edith Road, Abercrombie Rd and Campbell Rd, where a truck turnover was supposed to have been caused by the snowfall that lasted well into this morning, according to Oberon Review’s Maureen Lawson.
A number of forestry trucks were also bogged in the snowfall.
The mercury remained at just 1.7 degrees at 8am in Oberon, while it was a little warmer in Orange at 2.2 degrees and even warmer in Bathurst with 3.7.
Areas further west were warmer with six degrees in Dubbo, 6.4 in Parkes, 6.8 in Mudgee and 7.6 in Forbes.,
Oberon Council has issued an alert via its Facebook page for motorists that Edith Road has been closed due to snow and ice.
“Motorists are advised that many of the smaller roads may not have been inspected,” the alert stated.
“Motorists are advised to use extreme caution in particular being mindful of black ice and to drive to the conditions they encounter.”
A severe weather warning remains in place for southern parts of the region including Oberon and areas south of Lithgow on Tuesday morning due to a cold front that has been reinforced by a trough passing to the south. Damaging winds will average 50 to 65km/h, with peak gusts reaching around 90km/h possible.
Winds are expected to ease later in the day.
It’s been a few days of strange weather with a duststorm hitting north of Dubbo on Friday, followed by rain on Sunday and Monday morning that put 14mm in rain gauges at Wellington, and in the parched areas near Tamworth around 10mm. Orange had the highest rainfall in the state of 26mm.
The snow was welcome around Oberon as it will settle moisture into the soil. Meanwhile at Thredbo, about 35cm of fresh snow fell, putting a big smile on skiers’ faces.
Thredbo Ski Patrol Manager David Kuhn said “best I have ever skied High Noon” and was best powder of season.
Ben Domensino, Weatherzone meteorologist said more snow was on the way. “A procession of fronts is likely to bring more snow to the mountains this week and next,” he said.
“After more fresh falls today, a relatively weak front will deliver another 10-20cm of snow on Wednesday, followed by calmer weather Thursday and Friday. The next frontal system delivers another decent bout of fresh snow across the alps on the weekend. So, after today's powder day, it looks like there is plenty of snow on the way during the next fortnight too,” he said.
