Snow engulfs Victorian towns as Melbourne braces for coldest four-day spell since 1996, Australia

A blast of Antarctic air is moving over Victoria, Australia, this week, which has already brought snow to several towns. Meanwhile, Melbourne is forecast to shiver through its coldest four-day spell in 24 years as temperatures could even get cold enough for snow to reach some of the hills around the city.

Very cold air from the Antarctic is bringing showers, hail, snow, and gusty winds to Victoria's southern and mountainous areas, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). 

Residents in the state woke up to a dusting of snow Monday morning, August 3, including Snake Valley near Ballarat, Colac, and Otway Ranges. Several warnings are currently in place, including a severe weather warning for damaging winds.

In Ferny Creek in the Dandenong Ranges, people shivered through an icy morning with temperatures of -1 °C (30.2 °F).

The cold blast is forecast to result in a coldest four-day spell in Melbourne since 1996.

"A mass of cold air passing over Victoria this week will keep Melbourne's maximum temperatures a few degrees below average for several days in a row," said Weatherzone's Ben Domensino.

"Outside central Melbourne, temperatures could even get cold enough for snow to fall on some of the hills around the city."

"In Melbourne, temperatures are only forecast to reach 11 to 12 °C (51.8 to 53.6 °F) degrees each day between Tuesday and Friday (August 4 to 7)," Domensino added.

On the weekend, temperatures will climb slightly higher as warmer air returns to Victoria.

Featured image credit: BOM Victoria