Canberra's snow bunnies can rejoice as the start of winter is expected to bring falls at the Brindabellas and prime snow-making conditions a bit below.
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Families donned beanies and boots on Sunday at the Corin Forest Mountain Resort, where snow play and tobogganing resumed on Saturday. The resort's alpine slide has been in action a few weeks, and managing director Dane Liepins hopes more activities will be reintroduced soon.
"We are busy preparing and getting ready to expand and increase our offering for winter sports as both snow conditions [improve] and government restrictions [ease]," Mr Liepins said.
"We've only opened for 20 people at a time at the moment [but it's] just fantastic to be able to get back in business."
Mr Liepins said the resort was hoping for a natural dusting on Monday or Tuesday but, if not, cold conditions were expected to be prime for snow-making.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Stephen Stefanak said snowfalls would more likely hit the ACT's higher alpine regions as a cold front was expected to sweep across the national capital.
"A vigorous cold front ... is expected to approach from the west [on Monday] and then cross the ACT [around midday]," Mr Stefanak said.
"It's expected to bring fresh and gusty westerly to north-westerly winds and, up the alpines, we're looking at strong to possibly gale-force winds.
"By late [Monday] we could possibly see some snow on the Brindabella Ranges down as low as 900 metres ... and that will continue into Tuesday morning as well."
Mr Stefanak said mountains lower than 900 metres could get some sleet on late Monday and Tuesday. He said the vigorous cold front was "typical" for early June.
Once the cold front passed over the territory on Monday, Canberrans could expect a frosty end to the working week, Mr Stefanak said.
"I think by Thursday and Friday morning you're looking at widespread frost across the region.
"There's even a slight chance Wednesday morning could be frosty too."
Canberra city was expected to reach a maximum temperature of 12 degrees on Monday, while Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday were expected to reach tops of 13 degrees. Showers were forecast for Monday.
"They'll linger around on Tuesday morning but should pretty much clear up by late Tuesday," Mr Stefanak said.
Temperature lows were expected to descend into the minuses towards the end of the working week, with minimum temperatures of minus 1 forecast for both Thursday and Friday.
Corin Forest's Mr Liepins said the weather forecast was looking positive, as was the viability of a snow-filled school holiday season for Canberrans.
"I am absolutely thrilled that we will be having a ski season this year because [things have] been quite ominous over the past couple of months," Mr Liepins said.
"But [the ski season] is most certainly going to look different ... to what a normal year would look like."
Because of government restrictions, Corin Forest could only allow so many people into its snow play sessions, Mr Liepins said. Bookings were essential to avoid disappointment.
Cassandra Morgan
It has never been more important for Canberrans to be able to access reliable and accurate information about health. As The Canberra Times’ health reporter, I am committed to ensuring our readers have access to this. I, like many in the territory, have family members who work in the sector. Although providing comprehensive coverage on the coronavirus pandemic is obviously my number one priority, I aim to frequently shed light on the fantastic work our frontline professionals do, as well as the challenges they face. Email me tips and story ideas at: c.morgan@canberratimes.com.au.
It has never been more important for Canberrans to be able to access reliable and accurate information about health. As The Canberra Times’ health reporter, I am committed to ensuring our readers have access to this. I, like many in the territory, have family members who work in the sector. Although providing comprehensive coverage on the coronavirus pandemic is obviously my number one priority, I aim to frequently shed light on the fantastic work our frontline professionals do, as well as the challenges they face. Email me tips and story ideas at: c.morgan@canberratimes.com.au.
