Unusual weather in Australia, snow falling days before summer
A spell of unusual weather was reported in Tasmania on November 24, 2016, as the snowfall blanketed parts of the state only several days before the arrival of the summer.
Temperatures in Tasmania were expected to reach as low as 7 °C (44.6 °F), according to media reports. At the same time, in only one day, intense thunderstorms, strong winds, and grass fires were accompanied by a deep plunge in record-high temperatures reported in November.
Winds up to 100 km/h (62 mph) downed trees in Bendigo on November 19, forcing a local family to evacuate their home. Over 350 emergency calls were reported by the SES.
It's tomorrow already in Australia, it's nearly summer, and it's snowing @FallsCreek pic.twitter.com/TiYrnrQukV
— Snow Forecast.com (@SnowForecast) November 23, 2016
As the storm systems continued moving toward the east, severe weather warnings have been issued by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) for the eastern and northern Victoria.
Tasmanians could be witnessing a new trend, the Apple Isle having been struck by out-of-season around the same time last November and again in February this year.
35 °C (95 °F) was recorded in Melbourne on November 19, before the swift drop in temperatures caused them to fall for about 10 °C (18 °F).
The hot weather was also responsible for a grass fire which broke out near the Swan Hill, spreading on 320 hectares.
The unpredictable weather conditions yielded a rare phenomenon, named thunderstorm asthma, in Melbourne in the course of the week. 4 people died, resulting from the event.
Featured image: Snowfall in Falls Creek, Victoria, November 24, 2016. Image credit: @SnowForecast
This is not an unusual event as this has happened many times in the past. We have even had snow on Mt Wellington ( 15 minutes) drive from Hobart on Xmas day in the past.
Regards
Andrew from Hobart Tasmania