Alpine region dumped with snow, Bureau of Meteorology forecasts more rain to come

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Michael Efron said a 20-30 centimetre layer of snow was recorded in the Alps. 

Mr Efron said rain was mixed in with the dumping, so the majority of the snow wasn’t long-lasting.

Looking at radar images on Wednesday morning, he said not all of it had been washed away, with some still remaining.

Ensay producer John Hayward’s daughter-in-law sent him a photo of the snow at Omeo Valley, and he said he was grateful not to receive a downpour of snow at home.

Instead he received 64 millimetres of rainfall over the weekend, which has been very well-received.

“Our dams were starting to dry up and we were getting concerned, and now some are filled, they look good,” Mr Hayward said.

“It certainly hasn’t rained grass, but it’s quite amazing, it makes you feel a lot better.”

He said he can now see a green tinge on his pastures.

What’s to come

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) is predicting a week’s worth of cool temperatures, which will make it difficult for growth to occur after last weekend’s rain.

BoM forecaster, Michael Efron, said there was a slow-moving high pressure system sitting at the Great Australian Bight, which would move more cold air and rainfall into the State.

“It’s slow-moving, so you’re not going to see much change in the situation for quite some time,” Mr Efron said.

“With it in that position, we’re going to see cool and moist south-westerly winds across Victoria, bringing some isolated showers into the southern parts of the State.”

He said there would not be a lot of rain but dry conditions would remain in the north.

He said maximum temperatures should sit in the mid to high-teens across Victoria.

“In Northern Victoria, maximum temperatures should be generally between 16-18 degrees, nothing in the high 20s,” he said.

“Over in Southern Victoria, they’ll generally hit between 14-16 degrees.”

He said temperatures were about average for this time of year, and warned that parts of the State would be hit with frost conditions. 

“The North, and in particular North-East, could see some frost patches over the next few days,” he said.

“It’s that time of year where conditions are cold enough for frost to become an issue.”

Last weekend’s rain

While some parts of the State missed out on the weekend’s rainfall, the East was in luck, recording the heaviest rainfall totals.

Mr Efron said the Gippsland ranges and the ranges to the north of Melbourne saw the most consistent rainfall.

The highest total was recorded in Timbarra, just west of Buchan, which received 131 millimetres.

Mount Donna Buang also saw a high total, recording 108mm.

Across to the West, Benwerrin, in the Otway Ranges, recorded 69mm, and Mount William, at the Grampians, recorded 60mm.

Falls were light in Northern Victoria, with Birchip only recording four mm.

He said despite the low pressure system’s direction being hard to predict, the rain fell were it was expected to fall.

“We did see those falls in excess of 100mm across the central and eastern ranges, generally as expected, and the only downer was that the North-West only recorded fairly light falls,” he said.

Wind gust was also high, with Mouth Hotham recording a gust of 143 kilometres an hour, Mount William recording 135km/h, and Cape Nelson, near Portland, recording 94km/h.

Mr Efron said the strength of those winds was incredible.

He said the cold snap and wet weather wasn’t unseasonable.

“Every year or two, we got a decent cold outbreak in May,” he said.

“We’re only a month out from the official start to the winter season, so it’s not unusual.”