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Early Snow, Coastal Gales and a Weakening Cyclone Sweep Australia

Blizzard risks persist in the Alps with winds and seas forecast to ease into Saturday.

Overview

  • Australia’s southeast is facing snow in the high country and severe coastal conditions after a vigorous low formed off southern NSW, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
  • Thredbo reported about 10 centimetres of snowfall overnight, Perisher measured 3 to 4 centimetres, and Falls Creek logged its first fall of 2026.
  • The coastal low is driving gale to storm‑force southerly winds and very large seas, with damaging wind and surf warnings for the South Coast, Illawarra, Sydney and the ACT.
  • Storms and hail triggered more than 400 NSW SES call‑outs, cut power to over 5,000 homes in Sydney, and a 115 km/h dust storm in Dubbo toppled a crane and blacked out about 15,000 customers.
  • In Western Australia, Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle peaked at Category 4 and is now weakening on a south‑southeast track, while flood alerts remain in Queensland and parts of southeastern NSW.