Snow Has Hit Queensland For The First Time In Five Years

Many Aussies will have woken up to freezing conditions and generally unpleasant weather this morning.

But while this isn't uncommon (it is June after all and winter is upon us), the presence of snow is certainly a rarity in some parts of the country.

Like Queensland, for example, which has seen a dusting of the white stuff for the first time since 2015. Wind chill in Toowoomba made the temperature plummet to -5 degrees Celsius - which is seriously chilly.

Anyone thinking Australia has this beautiful perpetual sunshine needs to take a good look at this. Sure we're not being blanketed in snow like some of our Northern Hemisphere friends but -5 is bloody cold.

Marion Carrick from Stanthorpe told the ABC: "We're planning to stay by the fire as much as possible. Must say there's something about snow that brings out the kid in all of us. Just love it.

"It was more like snow showers, which was still lovely, it was still fantastic to see it. It didn't actually stay on the ground. Our boardwalk at the house was quite icy but when the snowflakes hit the ground they did melt.

"It is great for the region, it gets people talking about the region and how fantastic it is out here."

The Sunshine State isn't the only one getting some snow this morning, with parts of New South Wales being pummelled with flakes.

Up to 15cm of snow has fallen on Oberon, just west of the Blue Mountains, with flakes also shutting down some access points between the Mountains and Sydney.

"It's enough to cause road issues and enough to fold the branches of the trees from the weight of the snow," the Bureau of Meteorology's Jordan Notara told 9 News.

Places like Katoomba and Blackheath have been turned into winter wonderlands.

But it's not all fun and Frozen for people in the way of a big storm that's set to lash parts of New South Wales.

Wind gusts of up to 90km/h are expected to lash parts of the state and large surf will crash into our shores until the storm is over.

"People should stay well away from the surf and exposed areas. South facing beaches will be the most affected," a statement from the Bureau read.

So while some people are celebrating the snow, others are crying about how cold it is.

Featured Image Credit: Glenda Riley

Topics: Weather, News, Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie