By Taylah Eastwell
Fields of autumn snow blanketed parts of the Yarra Ranges this weekend as an icy cold front lashed parts of the state.
The early cold front hit the Hills and the Yarra Valley overnight on Saturday 10 April, with Ferny Creek’s Bureau of Meteorology weather station recording the highest rainfall levels across Victoria, copping 59mm by 9am on Sunday morning.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Melbournians woke up to bitter temperatures of 8.3°C this morning, the coldest morning recorded since 20 October last year.
How about a sleep in, #Melbourne? ?️?
It was 8.3°C this morning, the coolest since October 20 2020. Showers are possible throughout the day, with the heaviest falls in the eastern suburbs this morning. A max of 15°C.#StayInBed #LazySunday #TimeForPatshttps://t.co/cAurDgJt4P pic.twitter.com/Kn3mJ8xiyj— Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) April 10, 2021
The low temps and ice cold winds did not deter locals from getting out and enjoying the early snowfall, with Parks Victoria in attendance at crowded Mt Donna Buang to block vehicle access to the summit for safety reasons.
According to Hillcrest Fire Brigade, 15cm of fresh snow had fallen on the mountain by 10am, requiring VicRoads to grade the road.
Crowds of families flocked to the mountain, some making snowmen while others enjoyed toboggans or lined up for a warm drink from the mobile café that set up shop on the side of ice-covered Mt Donna Buang Summit Road.
Residents in the Hills also got a glimpse of the snowfall, with locals taking to social media to share images of the light frost covering parts of Olinda and Ferny Creek.
