This was published 9 years ago
Victoria faces coldest week of the year as snow falls in the west
By Beau Donelly and Caroline Zielinski
Melbourne has shivered through its coldest day of the year as the Victorian alps received a heavy dump of snow, causing havoc on mountain roads.
The mercury fell below 10 degrees across most of the state on Wednesday, with a high of 11.2 degrees in the city.
And the big chill is set to continue, with temperatures to remain low until Tuesday, a Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson said.
"On average, the second week in July is the coldest week of the year in Melbourne," he said.
"It's looking looking true to form, in that we're expecting pretty cold weather right through to next Tuesday with no temperatures forecast to reach 15 degrees in Melbourne."
The Bureau reported sleet in and around Ballarat on Wednesday, with Trentham, Bungaree, Wattle Flat and Gordon also experiencing some snowfall.
Drivers travelling through the areas are being warned to be careful along the Western Freeway, north-west of Melbourne.
There have been heavy snow falls at Victorian ski resorts, with 20 to 30cm of fresh snow falling in alpine regions. Mt Buller had received 24cm of snow as of Wednesday afternoon.
But the conditions have caused chaos on the roads.
Emergency services were called to a high angle rescue on Mt Donna Buang, in the Yarra Ranges, about 4pm after receiving reports that up to six cars had slid off the edge of the mountain.
A CFA spokesman said one car slide about five metres down the mountain and another four cars crashed into a roadside embankment in Warburton .
None of the occupants of the vehicles were injured or trapped, he said.
CFA and SES crews are still on scene providing shelter and blankets to the drivers.
“The road will remain blocked until a grader arrives to clear the three centimetres of snow and make the road safe again, a CFA statement said.
A traffic alert has been issued for the Great Alpine Road, which is experiencing lengthy delays due to heavy snow falls on Mount Hotham.
VicRoads said the road would be closed from Mill Road in Harrietville to Dargo High Plains Road in Hotham Heights from 7pm on Wednesday. The road is expected to reopen at 7am on Thursday.
Access to Dinner Plain and Hotham Height can be made via the Bairnsdale and Omeo approach. Drivers in the area are being warned to fit chains to their tyres.
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Scott Williams said Wednesday was exceptionally cold and that the temperature in Victoria's west had fallen to about four degrees at midday.
Mr Williams said across the state, temperatures were hovering between 4 and 10 degrees, with elevated areas such as Falls Creek and Mount Hotham experiencing temperatures just below freezing.
"The coldest air is coming through the west of Victoria, and will extend through the eastern parts of the state later this afternoon," he said.
The Alpine areas can expect about 15 centimetres of snow overnight and another strong cold front on Saturday will bring a further 15cm of snowfall.
Mr Williams said showers were forecast for Thursday, with a high of 13 degrees in the city.