Weather
December 1 normally marks the start of Australia’s meteorological summer — a day associated with rising temperatures, beach weather, and the beginning of the country’s hottest stretch of the year. Instead, parts of southeastern Australia woke up to fresh snow on Monday, December 1, as a burst of unusually cold air swept across the region.
The out-of-season snowfall was reported in higher elevations of Tasmania, Victoria, and New South Wales, where ski areas and mountain towns briefly returned to wintry conditions despite the calendar shift. Photos and videos shared to social media on Monday morning showed snow blanketing alpine roads, dusting cars, and coating peaks that had already transitioned into their off-season landscapes.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology attributed the unexpected wintry blast to a strong cold front moving north from the Southern Ocean, bringing sub-zero temperatures to the Australian Alps. Several locations recorded overnight temperatures more typical of July than December, with wind chills dipping even lower. Melbourne is forecast to endure the coldest December 1 day in nearly three decades, with a maximum of 16°C (60.8°F) predicted.
While early-summer snow is not unheard of in Australia, it remains uncommon. For Australian ski resorts, which closed two months ago, the snowfall rings out what was an amazing 2025 ski season with a special note. For tourists in the Snowy Mountains and Tasmania’s Arthur Range, it is an urgent reminder that even in summer, temperatures can drop quickly and conditions change dramatically. This spring, several tourists died while hiking in Tasmania and the Snowy Mountains. Temperatures are forecast to stay low for the beginning of the week, with warmer temperatures returning later in the week as the cold air mass moves offshore, returning much of the southeast to more season-appropriate conditions.
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