White Christmas MIRACLE: Tasmania Dazzles in Rare Snowfall as Rest of Australia Swelters in Scorching Heat
- Parts of Tasmania woke up to a magical white Christmas, with snow blanketing the summit of Hobart’s kunanyi/Mt Wellington
- The rare summer snowfall fell as low as 700m above sea level, with temperatures plummeting to -1.4C at the summit
- The breathtaking scenes were captured on webcam, with Tasmanian residents taking to social media to express their delight and surprise
In a Christmas Day shock, Tasmania has been transformed into a winter wonderland, with a rare and precious dusting of snow on the summit of kunanyi/Mt Wellington. The summer snowfall, which fell as low as 700m above sea level, sent temperatures at the summit plummeting to a chilly -1.4C about 8.40am.
The stunning scenes were captured on a webcam operated by the City of Hobart, showing the mountain majestically blanketed in a layer of white. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued an alert for bushwalkers due to the hazardous conditions, warning of “hazardous conditions” in parts of the Western and Central Plateau forecast districts.
For Tasmanian residents, the snowfall was a dream come true. “OH MY GOD, one of my lifelong dreams of experiencing an Australian White Christmas has FINALLY come true right now on this magical Christmas morning,” one resident wrote on social media. Another exclaimed, “What an incredible morning to wake up to — snow-dusted landscapes, crisp alpine air, and pure Christmas magic.”
According to BOM meteorologist Angus Hines, the last time Australia recorded snow on Christmas Day was a staggering 19 years ago. “We asked our climate team to go back and have a look, and they reckon the last time that there was measurable snow on Christmas Day was 2006, which was also for southern-western Tasmania, and there was also, I believe, a little dusting on parts of southern Victoria on 2006 Christmas Day as well,” he revealed.
While Tasmania basked in the magic of its white Christmas, the rest of Australia was forecast to experience a sweltering day. Perth was set to sizzle with a top of 40C under mostly sunny skies, while Brisbane and Darwin were also expected to reach highs of 33C and 32C respectively.
Canberra, Adelaide, Sydney, and Melbourne were forecast to experience milder conditions, with tops ranging from 17C to 28C. But for Tasmanians, the rare snowfall was a truly unforgettable Christmas gift.