Polar breeze delivers snowy gifts

By Rachel Kleinman
August 11, 2005

It was an exceptional day even in a state renowned for unreliable weather, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

A particularly intense cold front that passed through the south-west of Victoria late on Tuesday afternoon was the first warning sign of an unusual day ahead, duty forecaster Geoff Feren told The Age.

The air had been forced up rapidly from polar regions and spread across the state, reaching the far east overnight on Tuesday. The speed and depth of the front meant it retained its intensity for longer than usual.

The layer of cold air was between five and six kilometres deep, compared to an average shallow front, which would be about two kilometres deep, Mr Feren said.

And, by dawn yesterday, snow had already begun to fall in western Victoria.

Although the cold front had passed across the state by yesterday afternoon, conditions were still suitable for snow.

"In the wake of the cold front, there was a deep, unstable south-to-south-westerly airflow that persisted throughout the day," Mr Feren said.

The most surprising development was that snow fell at sea level, Mr Feren said. "Usually at this time of year, temperatures would be at freezing at 1500 metres to two kilometres above sea level.

"But yesterday, temperatures were at freezing only about 800 metres above sea level."

This is what caused the precipitation to remain frozen and hit the ground as snow rather than rain in areas that are more renowned for their beach and surf lifestyles.

"The fact that it was down to sea levels was exceptional," Mr Feren said.

"July 1951 was the last time the bureau had reports of such widespread falls at that level."

Mr Feren said the severe cold snap was expected to continue into today, with more snow predicted in regional areas.
