News

It will be a windy old day in the Alps with a decent chance of lifts higher up going on hold from time to time. And of course there will be some light snow higher up and some rain lower down.

Synoptic Outlook:
We've got a frontal system coming through today that you could describe as double barrelled. The leading edge is a trough that will arrive in the western part of the VIC Alps later this morning and make its way through the NSW half this afternoon.

That will generate some rain ahead of itself and a more westerly tilt to the winds, but because it's not really bringing through any colder air we're at the mercy of freezing levels that are sitting right on the button right now. Viz, it's sitting within half a degree of zero degrees at Falls, Hotham and Thredbo Top Station right now.

It's not expected to cool much until the cold front itself bursts through later tonight, so the 5 to 10cm of snow you are seeing in the forecast tabs above is your best case scenario that you might hit around the peaks, while at 1700m 80 per cent of it will probably fall as rain.

Don't fret however, as we'll be looking at snow down nice and low tomorrow. The model is only saying 5cm but it's possible somewhere will pick up 10cm. Then again, I think the 10cm+ showing up in the model data on Friday with a southerly change is a bit hopeful, and would shade that down to 5 to 10cm.

So all up, we may just squeeze 20cm out of this sucker by the weekend, with a high taking control on Saturday.

Wednesday 29 August:
A mix of patchy rain and snow developing from late morning, tending to snow during the evening. About 10mm/cm in total. Strong northerly winds tending westerly in the evening.

Thursday 30 August:
A few snow showers bringing another 5cm+. Cold strong westerlies.

Friday 31 August:
A snow shower or two with a southerly change. 5cm+.

Saturday 1 September:
Mostly fine. Could still be a bit of cloud drifting in on a southerly.

Extended Outlook:
This high low pattern looks as though it will repeat itself with another front due through Wednesday or Thursday of next week.

Courtesy of Mountianwatch: www.mountianwatch.com