Wild Autumn Storms Deliver First Snow of 2026 and Leave Thousands Without Power Across Eastern Australia
Southerly change brings 10 degree temperature drop with more warnings in place for Friday
A powerful southerly change brought a 10 to 12 degree temperature drop to parts of Victoria, Tasmania, and New South Wales on Thursday night, with more warnings in place for Friday. The storms knocked out power across wide areas and disrupted transport.
At Perisher ski resort in the NSW Snowy Mountains, the early snow delivery prompted excitement about the coming season. While it is still only March, the Bureau of Meteorology was checking its record books for comparable early-season snowfalls.
The wild weather on the east coast came as Western Australia continued to track Tropical Cyclone Narelle, which has re-intensified to a category 4 storm and is bearing down on the coast near Exmouth and Coral Bay.
Analysis
Why This Matters
Snow in March is unusual for eastern Australia and the severe storms add to what has been a particularly volatile autumn. The combination of a category 4 cyclone in the west and major storms in the east highlights the extreme weather battering the country from both sides.
Background
Eastern Australia has already been dealing with significant storm damage this week, including the Sydney storms that knocked out power to 11,000 homes earlier.
What to Watch
Friday conditions across NSW and Victoria, and the path of Cyclone Narelle along the WA coast. The Bureau has warnings in place for both coasts.