A continent-wide "polar blast" over Australia

“IT’S A BIG ONE” — BRUTAL POLAR BLAST SET TO ENVELOPE THE ENTIRE AUSTRALIAN CONTINENT

Multiverse,

8 May, 2019

Multiple Antarctic air masses are making a beeline for Australia — temperatures are set to sink well-below average for the time of year and up to 50cm (19.7 inches) of accumulating snow is expected in the Aussie Alps.

Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) forecaster Sarah Scully warns that a “very cold air mass is moving from the Antarctic right over the country.” 

“Temperatures will be 10C lower than the average, even in the Northern Territory and Queensland.

“It’s a cold snap affecting the whole country, it’s a big one.

“The effects will be felt right into the weekend.”

GFS TEMP ANOMALY (C) — MAY 9 to MAY 13

Scully goes further, warning that the cold temperatures could be a threat to livestock in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

“Livestock only need to get a bit wet and the winds will cause them a lot of trouble,” she told Yahoo News.

Temps are set to plummet to -5C (23F) in the Australian Alps over the weekend, with up to 20cm (7.9 inches) of snow forecast for Perisher Valley, Cabramurra, Charlotte Pass and Thredbo.

Mount Hotham and Falls Creek are forecast to receive even more — close to 50cm (19.7 inches) over the next week, with Mt Buller looking at accumulations of about 33cm (13 inches). 

GFS TOTAL SNOW (CM) — MAY 10 to MAY 18

Winter 2019 has arrived early Australia, as predicted.

These are the actual temperature anomalies