It’s a magical morning across the New England region, with snow transforming towns into a picturesque winter wonderland. What’s shaping up to be one of the most significant snowfall events in recent years is underway—but it’s a fleeting moment of beauty, with forecasters warning the snow is expected to last just one day.
Snow began falling in Guyra during the early hours and has been intensifying throughout the morning. According to weather experts at Higgins Storm Chasing, Guyra could see as much as 40cm of snow by the end of the day. Ben Lomond is tipped to receive up to 25cm, Uralla 33cm, and Armidale 14cm.
Higgins Storm Chasing posted on Facebook:
“After many days of forecasting this Winter storm here it is bang on the money… A very cold upper cut off low is located over Northern NSW & Southern QLD.”
“The rotation has tightened right up over Moree this morning which will move east today. It is snowing heavily at Guyra / Ben Lomond with up to 40cms possible today – it’s also snowing in Armidale.”
Locals and visitors are making the most of the rare snowfall, with snowball fights and snowmen popping up across the high country. But authorities are urging caution—should conditions worsen, road closures are likely. Drivers are advised to stay up to date via Live Traffic NSW and local alerts.
If you’re hoping to catch the snow in person, you’d better act fast. The window is short, with conditions expected to shift rapidly overnight.
The Bureau of Meteorology also weighed in on the phenomenon, stating:
“As rain combines with cold air through north-east New South Wales today, snow is a risk in areas which don’t usually see it.”
“Through parts of the Northern Tablelands, above 1000-1200 metres in elevation, rain is likely to fall as snow on Saturday. This includes areas around Guyra and Armidale, which have already seen snow falling through Saturday morning.”
“Moderate snowfalls are forecast across the Northern Tablelands, with as much as 20-30 cm possible in some areas. Flurries of snow may be seen as low as 800 meters in the region, which may bring impacts for major roads.”
“The chance of snow in the Northern Tablelands will decrease late on Saturday, and is unlikely through the remainder of the weekend.”
Snowboarding at Guyra Golf Course (Stephen Spence)
The NSW SES has also issued an advice to Walcha, Uralla, Armidale, Guyra, and Glen Innes, advising caution when out in the snow, avoid driving if you can and be wary of black ice.
So rug up, head out if it’s safe to do so, and soak up this rare winter spectacle while it lasts. Stay safe and warm, New England!
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