CANBERRA - Freezing weather driven by an Antarctic cold front led to rare snowfalls on beaches and mountains across southeast Australia on Wednesday, closing major highways and country schools.
In a once in a 20-year event, snow fell on the southern island state of Tasmania, on beaches and mountains in the state of Victoria, on farms recovering from severe drought in New South Wales state and on the national parliament in Canberra.
"I'd have to say it is the most widespread I've seen in my 21 years at the bureau," said Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Scott Williams.
"It's right on the beach level," said Williams in Victoria.
In the southern state of Victoria, snowfalls around the city of Melbourne and to the state's southeast were the largest recorded in 40 years, prompting authorities to close several major country highways.
(Reporting by James Grubel, editing by Bill Tarrant)
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
