Weather
Over the weekend, residents of northern New South Wales (NSW) and even parts of southern Queensland experienced a rare dose of winter wonderland. Up to 40 centimeters (16 inches) of snow blanketed towns such as Guyra, Armidale, Uralla, and Walcha, marking the deepest snowfall in the Northern Tablelands since the 1984.
For many Queenslanders, snow is a novelty—but this weekend it became a destination. Visitors from Brisbane and the Gold Coast descended south into NSW’s elevated regions, hoping to witness the fall themselves. Rural holidays saw record bookings, as travelers flooded to the region to witness the first snow of their lives. Many had never seen snow before and kids and adults alike delighted in catching giant snowflakes with their tongues or building snowmen. One happy couple even got engaged surrounded by blankets of snow. But the joy was not without consequences.
By midday, more than 100 vehicles were stuck along the New England Highway, slowed by snow, ice, and fallen trees. The NSW State Emergency Service responded to hundreds of calls, warning motorists to avoid unnecessary travel, and noting road conditions had never been seen this severe. Power outages disrupted over 6,000 homes, and mobile networks faltered due to the storm’s intensity.
Northern NSW saw temperatures plummet—Armindale reached just 1.3 °C by 9 a.m. and hovered around freezing for hours, allowing snow to accumulate rapidly across the Northern Tablelands. Guyra, perched at approximately 1,330 meters (4,360 feet), is Australia’s highest town outside the Snowy Mountains alpine region—an altitude that helped produce this unexpected snow scene.
Meanwhile, in Queensland’s Granite Belt, light flurries fell over Warwick, Dalveen, Pozieres, and Amiens—a sight so rare that it has been at least a decade since the last snow flurries were reported.
Although the heavy snow stole the headlines, the storm brought secondary challenges. Significant rainfall across northern NSW triggered major flooding, with rivers like the Peel and Namoi swelling. More than 3,600 emergency calls poured in as rescuers responded to floods, stranded vehicles, and damaged infrastructure. Emergency services advised the public to avoid travel to the area. Flood risks continue in parts of the Northern Tablelands and Hunter following the weekend’s severe weather.
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