‘Prepare now’: Wind, rain, snow set smash southern parts of Australia, one region facing first bout of snow in 23yrs

Dangerous wind gusts, blizzard conditions and snow flurries will batter the south-east, with residents told to ‘prepare now’ and a region set to receive snow for the first time in 23 years. The massive cold front will chill NSW, Victoria, South Australia and even parts of the Northern Territory well into next week, bringing gale-force winds of more than 100km/hour. State Emergency Services (SES) have issued severe weather warnings to the Illawarra and Blue Mountains in NSW, and Alpine regions of Victoria. Snow dumps of 50 to 80mm between Wednesday and Saturday are likely across elevated alpine areas, including Hotham Falls in Victoria and Perisher Valley in NSW. “By Saturday we can also expect snow flurries in areas which rarely see snowfall,” Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) senior meteorologist Sarah Scully said. “This includes the Dandenong Ranges and the Grampians in Victoria. “Snow is also possible in NSW towns of Orange, Bathurst and Oberon, and even elevated parts of the ACT. “In parts of Tasmania snow is forecast at just 100m of elevation, so we could even see snow at sea level. A snow flurry is forecast for the Mount Lofty ranges near Adelaide - making it the first time South Australia has received snow since 2002. Damaging wind gusts will lash parts of the NSW Illawarra, South Coast, Blue Mountains and Southern Tablelands, with the Snowy Mountains region facing a huge multi-day blizzard. Gale-force winds of around 110km/hour will also hit Victorian regions of Falls Creek, Dargo, Mt Baw Baw, Mt Hotham, Mt Buller and Omeo. Victoria has already copped significant winds overnight. In the 24 hours to 9am Wednesday wind gusts of 128km/hour were recorded at Mount Hotham, 122km/hour at Mount Buller, 107km/hour at Falls Creek and 100km/hour at St Kilda in inner-city Melbourne. “While the south-east will feel the brunt of the cold front on Friday and Saturday, cold temperatures and high winds could hang around until at least Wednesday next week,” Ms Scully said. The cold fronts follow a deluge of rain over the east coast in the past month, with Sydney copping more than 360mm - about four times the August average. The Harbour City has surpassed its annual rainfall average, despite a third of the year remaining. Flood warnings along the Namoi River in the state’s north remain in place with major flooding possible in Wee Waa. BOM has warned the river may peak near the major flood level at 6.7m on Tuesday evening. “Don’t drive, walk, swim or play in floodwater … Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams and waterways,” the warning read. “Obey road closure signs. Plan ahead so you don’t drive on flooded roads.”