Record low April temperatures and snowfall at Charlotte Pass, NSW, Australia

[Third_Density_Resident]

Minus 13 degrees - the coldest it's been in April
Brett Dutschke, Wednesday April 29, 2009 - 14:58 EST

A new Australian record was set early this morning, a temperature of minus 13 degrees, at Charlotte Pass on the Snowy Mountains.

This is the lowest temperature recorded anywhere in Australia in April and is 13 below the average. Nearby at Perisher it dipped to minus 11 degrees and at the top of Thredbo it dipped to minus 10.

Across the border, on the Victorian Alps April records were broken at Mt Hotham where it chilled to minus eight degrees and Mt Buller and Falls Creek where it got as low as minus seven.

A few other locations set April low temperature records also. In Tasmania Lake Leake was as cold as minus six, Sheffield and Dover both reached minus one and Flinders island got to zero. Hobart had its coldest April night in 46 years, recording a low of 1.7 degrees, seven below average.

While much of inland NSW and Victoria will be colder tomorrow morning than it was this morning under clearer skies, the Alps should be a little warmer due to a rise in humidity.



http://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/minus-13-degrees-the-coldest-it-s-been-in-april/11794

 

[ScioAgapeOmnis]

Re: Minus 13 degrees at Charlotte Pass, NSW Australia -- new April record

Well I guess I'll go on record (pun intended) that here in Massachusetts, US we just had an almost record high yesterday (April 28th), of between 90-95 F. Today it's back to normal for this time of year of about 60.

 

[Third_Density_Resident]

More news: Best April snowfalls in 50 years.

On a related topic, it seems that not only did the mercury fall to record lows, but the snowfall in the Australia Alps region is the highest for April in 50 years of records. Does all of this indicate we are headed for another cool period as the Pacific Decadal Oscillation suggests? Possibly. Melbourne recorded its lowest April minimum in more than 50 years, but then again, back in February Melbourne recorded the hottest temperature ever at 47 degrees Celsius or so. Very erratic and unpredicatable! (And what you said SAO also seems to be consistent with the erratic nature of the weather.)

Skiers welcome cold snap
Thursday April 30, 2009 - 15:00 EST

[Image]Snowboarder Jimi Cordell revels in the conditions at Falls Creek, Victoria, on April 28, 2009, after half a metre of snow blanketed the Australian Alps, bringing the best April snowfalls in 50 years. - ABC

The ski season will start five weeks early at Mount Buller in Victoria's alpine region - the earliest start to the season in the resort's 45-year history.

The resort will open to the public this weekend, including access to one lift.

The early start to the season is possible because of substantial snowfalls over the past week.

Laurie Blampied from Buller Ski Lifts says future weekend skiing is also possible.

"We'll assess conditions next week and depending on what the weather brings, if we've got good conditions again next weekend we'll consider opening again the weekend after," he said.

The resort says there will be no entry fee to the mountain because the season has not officially started yet.

Mr Blampied says the resort is seizing the opportunity created by snowfalls this week.

"We've had a look at the snow that's on the ground and ... we've decided to use it while we can and give our guests the opportunity to ski at the earliest time in the season that we're able to recall."Temperatures

Today Melbourne recorded its coldest April morning in more than 50 years.

Forecaster James Taylor says the mercury dipped below three degrees in the city but it is even colder in the east.

"We've got, around the suburbs, temperatures dropping down around zero to two degrees," he said.

"It's dropped as low as minus 2.7 degrees out at Coldstream and the Yarra Valley and in the city itself the temperature dropped to 2.9 degrees, which is the lowest April overnight minimum since 1957."

He says Mt Hotham is recovering from a record April low of minus 8.2 yesterday morning.

- ABC