Canberra has shivered its way through a rainy public holiday Monday morning, with a severe weather warning predicting wind gusts of up to 90km/h in the ACT.
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The temperature topped out at 9 degrees, and Tuesday is not looking much better. A top of 10 is forecast
While the conditions aren't good news for Canberrans trying to make the most of a day off, it's perfect conditions for skiers, with snowfalls above 800 metres.
Joss McAlpin from Perisher said more than 20 centimetres of snow fell overnight, marking an early start to the snow season.
"It's still snowing ... and if the strong winds continues, it will be very good," Mr McAlpin said.
"This is a big, significant fall for May, so it sets us up well for the opening weekend."
Thredbo also recorded five centimetres of snow on Monday morning.
Thredbo spokeswoman Susie Diver said falls had been consistent since 3.30am.
"It's been quite blizzardy around the peaks, and it's nice to see the mountains nice and white before the start of the ski season," Ms Diver said.
"It's been around minus 5 degrees, but with the winds around 50km/h, the wind chill has been around minus 15."
Temperatures in the Snowy Mountains plummeted, with a maximum of minus 1 degrees at Thredbo and 0 at Perisher forecasted on Monday.
More snowfalls are expected throughout the week, with snow levels dropping to 650 metres on Wednesday.
Zi-Weng Chua, a forecaster from the Bureau of Meteorology, said the low snow levels could mean parts of the ACT could receive falls this week.
"The elevated parts of the ACT could see a dusting of snow," Mr Chua said.
"There's a further chance on Wednesday, so areas like Mount Ginini could get some falls."
The chilly weather has been brought on by a large cold front, moving across the ACT.
Up to two millimetres of rain have been forecasted for Monday, but more rain is expected later in the week.
"Tuesday is looking dry, but Wednesday there's another front moving across the ACT that would deliver the chance of more rainfall and looking at a few millimetres then," Mr Chua said.
The bureau has predicted the mercury will rise to just 10 degrees on Tuesday, with wind and rain forecasted on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Sub-zero temperatures are also predicted later this week, with a low of minus 2 degrees on Thursday and Friday.
Andrew Brown
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
