Key Takeaways
- A rare white Christmas occurred in parts of Tasmania, with snow falling as low as 700m above sea level.
- The snowfall was captured on a webcam operated by the City of Hobart, showing the mountain blanketed in white.
- Temperatures at the summit of kunanyi/Mt Wellington plunged to -1.4C, with hazardous conditions expected in parts of the Western and Central Plateau forecast districts.
- The last time Australia recorded snow on Christmas Day was 19 years ago, in 2006, in southern-western Tasmania and parts of southern Victoria.
- While Tasmania shivered, much of the rest of Australia was forecast to experience warmer Christmas Day conditions, with temperatures ranging from 17C in Melbourne to 40C in Perth.
Introduction to the Rare White Christmas
A rare white Christmas has occurred in parts of Tasmania, with snow blanketing the summit of Hobart’s kunanyi/Mt Wellington. The summer snowfall fell as low as 700m above sea level on Thursday morning, coating the mountain in a layer of white. Temperatures at the summit plunged to -1.4C, with the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issuing an alert for bushwalkers due to the hazardous conditions. The snowfall was captured on a webcam operated by the City of Hobart, showing the mountain blanketed in white, and was shared by residents on social media, who expressed surprise and delight at the rare Christmas Day scenes.
The Snowfall and Its Impact
The snowfall was a rare sight in Australia, with the last time the country recorded snow on Christmas Day being 19 years ago, in 2006. BOM meteorologist Angus Hines told Yahoo that the climate team had gone back and looked at the records, and found that the last time there was measurable snow on Christmas Day was in 2006, in southern-western Tasmania and parts of southern Victoria. The snowfall caused hazardous conditions in parts of the Western and Central Plateau forecast districts, with the BOM issuing an alert for bushwalkers. Residents shared photos and videos of the snowfall on social media, expressing surprise and wonder at the rare Christmas Day scenes.
Christmas Day Weather Forecast
While Tasmania shivered, much of the rest of Australia was forecast to experience warmer Christmas Day conditions. Perth was set to swelter with a top of 40C under mostly sunny skies, while Brisbane was forecast to reach 33C, with a chance of showers and a possible thunderstorm. Darwin was also facing a warm day, with a top of 32C and a shower or two forecast, along with the chance of a thunderstorm. Canberra was expected to be partly cloudy, with a top of 28C, while Adelaide was forecast to see early cloud clearing, with temperatures reaching 25C. Sydney was expecting a top of 23C with a possible shower or two, while Melbourne was also forecast to see a shower or two, with a cooler top of 17C.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
The rare white Christmas in Tasmania was a surprise and delight for residents, who shared photos and videos of the snowfall on social media. The snowfall was a rare sight in Australia, with the last time the country recorded snow on Christmas Day being 19 years ago. While Tasmania shivered, much of the rest of Australia was forecast to experience warmer Christmas Day conditions, with temperatures ranging from 17C in Melbourne to 40C in Perth. The Bureau of Meteorology’s official Christmas Day forecast had landed, with residents and visitors alike enjoying the festive season in different parts of the country. Overall, the rare white Christmas in Tasmania was a special and memorable event, one that would be cherished by residents and visitors alike for years to come.
