Snow falls as icy blast grips NSW, Victoria

An icy blast has gripped New South Wales and Victoria overnight, with late winter snowfalls in the Blue Mountains.

Temperatures plummeted 10C in just two hours across Sydney, driven by a sudden southerly wind change bringing a very cold air mass.

In Katoomba, west of Sydney, it reached -1.5C but felt like -7C, leading to a ground-blanketing snowfall.

More snow fell in parts of Victoria, days out from the beginning of spring on September 1.

Meanwhile, a severe weather warning is in place across New South Wales today.

Surf and swell is expected to be hazardous along the coast from Byron Bay to the Illawarra.

Residents are advised to stay out of the water.

The cold front that has brought the snow and freezing temperatures has already moved offshore, meaning that the weather won't stick around.

But today, Sydney and much of NSW can prepare for a very cold, gusty day.

In Melbourne the weather is likely to be similar, with a chance of rain in the afternoon.

Drivers have been advised to avoid travel in the Blue Mountains due to black ice on the roads.

The Great Western Highway is closed between Katoomba and Mount Victoria while Bells Line of Road is also closed between Bell and Lithgow.

Due to the weather conditions there, is no forecast of when these roads will reopen.

Additionally, trains on the Blue Mountains Line are running late due to heavy snow and ice on the tracks.

Passengers are advised to delay their trips.

Source: https://ift.tt/k23ixer

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