A big snowfall surprised people living in eastern Australia this weekend. Snow covered towns in New South Wales, and it brought both joy and trouble.
In areas like Guyra, Armidale, Uralla, and Walcha, the snow was very heavy—up to 40 cm deep. Locals said they hadn’t seen this much snow in many years. Roads were icy and dangerous. Some people said it felt like driving on glass. Over 100 cars got stuck on the New England Highway after snow came down fast.
The snow also broke power lines. At one point, over 11,000 homes had no electricity. Even by Monday, about 6,000 homes were still without power. In Uralla, a local pub called the Bolt Inn opened its doors to help people stay warm and safe. Mobile networks also went down, and many people had no phone signal until Tuesday.
In Queensland, towns like Warwick, Dalveen, and Stanthorpe saw light snow. This is very rare in that part of Australia. The Southern Downs had its biggest snow since 2015. Tourists filled holiday parks and even crossed the border to see more snow in places like Glen Innes and Guyra.
People in Guyra made the most of the moment. Some were even skiing on the local golf course. It turned the town into a winter wonderland, if only for a short time.
Emergency teams are asking people to stay home if they can, and only travel if it’s very important. While many enjoyed the snow, it also brought serious problems.
This snowfall shows how nature can still surprise us. People are now asking—could this happen again soon?
Image Source
Snowfall in Australia causes power outages across several cities due to rare winter weather. Source: unn.u