NSW weather: State shivers through snowfalls as winter finally strikes

PARAMEDICS are responding to reports of two adults and a child trapped in a car off near Orange as a result of heavy snowfall.

It is believed that two adults and a 4 year old child were inside the car when it slipped and left the road, before becoming lodged in a ditch off Mitchell’s Way, Lidster.

Five paramedic units are responding to the incident, which was reported just after 9am.

Winter conditions hit overnight as NSW shivered through its first snowfalls and plunging temperatures, winds and hazardous surf conditions.

The temperature in the city plunged to 10C, Penrith 9C and Campbelltown just 3.5C with temperatures set to fall further at the weekend.

In Oberon and Bathurst, the cold snap ushered in snow to the NSW central west.

Snow has also fallen across the Alps, including Thredbo and Perisher, with more expected in the next three days.

The temperature in the Kosciuszko National Park dropped to -3C yesterday afternoon, with the snow-making team kicking off for the season.

“The entire community is super-excited about the early snowfall one month out from the opening of the season,” Perisher team staffer Joss McAlpin said

Roads into Oberon town remain open with staff out and about this morning inspecting the Gingkin, Black Springs and Shooters Hills roads, with a further update to follow.

Motorists are advised that many of the smaller roads may not have been inspected.

Motorists are advised to use extreme caution in particular being mindful of black ice and to drive to the conditions they encounter.

A complex low pressure system near Tasmania is deepening in response to a cold front crossing the region. This low is expected to slowly move east resulting in vigorous winds across southeastern and elevated parts of the state today and over the weekend.

Damaging gusty winds, averaging above 65km/h with peak gusts in excess of 90km/h are expected to develop from late this morning along the New South Wales ranges and through the Illawarra district.

A gusty southerly wind change is then expected to move into southern New South Wales later this evening.

Ausgrid issued a warning to customers this morning to prepare for potential severe weather and damaging winds over the weekend.

Chief Operating Officer Trevor Armstrong said wind gusts of up to 80 kilometres per hour are forecast for Sydney for Friday afternoon and possibly as high as 100 kilometres per hour in Sydney’s south on Saturday.

“When we see damaging winds like this they can lead to disruptions across the network as they can cause powerlines to snap or branches and trees to fall on overhead wires.

“A quarter of all outages in our network are caused by trees contacting powerlines but we work to restore power safely and as quickly as possible”, Mr Armstrong said.

Ausgrid is also asking customers to take some simple precautions at home.

“It’s a good idea to take a few minutes and put away any loose outdoor items like tools, play equipment and garden furniture before the strongest winds arrive.

“Securing those items means they won’t blow away during strong winds and damage powerlines or property”, he said.

It’s important to stay well clear or any storm debris or damaged trees as they can hide fallen wires.

“If you spot fallen powerlines always assume they are live, do not go near them, stay safely back and report them to us so we can make them safe”, he said.

Hazardous surf conditions are expected to develop over Eden, Batemans and Illawarra coasts and then extend to Sydney, Hunter, Macquarie and Coffs coasts during Saturday.

A light dusting of snow covered the Central Tablelands overnight, with higher mountain peaks receiving a few centimetres, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

“We are expecting the snow to be done with by this afternoon and anything on the ground is likely to melt away,” BOM spokeswoman Anita Titmarsh told AAP today.

Damaging winds are also expected along the state’s southern coastline, with surfers, boaters and rock fishers warned of hazardous surf conditions.

Thredbo Resort spokesman Suzie Diver said yesterday night’s snowfall is a good base ahead of the ski and snowboarding season when it opens on June 9.

“It is always nice to see a bit of snow falling in the village and colder temperatures this time of year,” Ms Diver told AAP.