"Atypical" snowfall, rainfall, and thunderstorms sweep through eastern Australia
Heavy Snow and Flooding Disrupt Eastern Australia
Australia has been hit by an unusual weather event, with heavy snowfall and flooding affecting parts of New South Wales and Queensland over the weekend of August 2-3, 2025.
The heaviest snowfall since the mid-1980s was recorded in New South Wales, with up to 40 centimeters (16 inches) of snow falling in northern parts of the state. This was also the first time in 10 years that snow fell in parts of neighbouring Queensland [1][2].
The severe weather led to over 1,455 emergency incidents, including more than 100 vehicles becoming stranded on major roads and tens of thousands of homes losing power [4]. Flood warnings and evacuations were issued for low-lying and vulnerable areas such as Gunnedah, New England, and Raymond Terrace.
Emergency services are currently conducting a search for a woman swept away in floodwaters in the Hunter Valley region after a car tried to cross flooded areas [1][2]. The driver of the car, a 27-year-old woman, was rescued without any injuries. The search for the missing woman is due to continue on Monday.
Miriam Bradbury of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology highlighted climate change as a factor increasing weather volatility in Australia but emphasized that the snowfall and flooding combination remains particularly rare and notable. A cold air front was responsible for dropping the record snow levels [4].
Major flooding is expected to occur in low-lying parts of Gunnedah, New England, on Monday. Additionally, major flooding is also expected to occur in Raymond Terrace in the Hunter Region on Monday.
This snow event in the Northern Tablelands is unusual due to both the amount of snow and its widespread coverage. The severe weather has disrupted communities, infrastructure, and emergency services while illustrating increasing weather extremes in the region.
[1] New South Wales hit by heavy snow and flooding
[2] Queensland experiences first snowfall in a decade
[3] Over 100 vehicles stranded on major roads due to weather conditions
[4] Snow warning remains in place for Northern Tablelands
The dramatic weather event in Eastern Australia, with heavy snowfall and flooding, was the first snowfall seen in Queensland in a decade and the heaviest since the mid-1980s in New South Wales. Despite the severe weather forecasting, the combination of snowfall and flooding remains particularly rare and noteworthy, demonstrating increasing weather volatility in the region.
