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‘Cold snap’: Sydney shivers through coldest morning of 2016

Baby it’s so cold outside, it’s almost freezing.

Frigid weather continues to blast Australia as we welcome winter.

Sydney woke to its coldest morning of the year so far, with temperatures in the city dropping to a low of 5C.

A sign displaying the obvious low risk of bush fire in Mount Victoria. Source: Reuters.
A sign displaying the obvious low risk of bush fire in Mount Victoria. Source: Reuters.
The snow also fell in Orange, the Central West region of New South Wales, and emergency services were on the roads to warn other motorists of road closures. Source: NSW Police Media.
The snow also fell in Orange, the Central West region of New South Wales, and emergency services were on the roads to warn other motorists of road closures. Source: NSW Police Media.

While no more snow is expected to fall this weekend the cold weather is expected to continue for the remainder of the weekend.

The cold front will continue well into next week with temperatures in Sydney not expected to exceed 20C.

The most powerful cold front in June for three years has blasted its way through New South Wales this week.

Katoomba in the Blue Mountains reached a mere maximum of 7C over the weekend, while Sovereign Hill in Ballarat, was a frosty 1C on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile heavy rain turned Melbourne city streets into ‘swimming pools’ at peak hour.

Children roll snowballs in a park after snow fell in the town of Mount Victoria, west of Sydney. Source: Reuters.
Children roll snowballs in a park after snow fell in the town of Mount Victoria, west of Sydney. Source: Reuters.
The first major cold snap of 2016 has hit to parts of Australia as an east coast low sweeps across parts of the nation. Source: 7 News.
The first major cold snap of 2016 has hit to parts of Australia as an east coast low sweeps across parts of the nation. Source: 7 News.

The weather has been perfect for skiers over the weekend with 70 centimetres of snow falling at Thredbo within the past 24 hours.

In Queensland Sunday's maximum will also be frosty in the sunshine state with Stanthorpe climbing to a high of 11 degrees, Toowoomba will reach 12, while central areas of southern Queensland including St George will rise to just 13 degrees.

Brisbane's minimums will struggle to reach double figures for the remainder of next week.

The strongest winds overnight were recorded at Brisbane airport, with 76 km/h.

The heavy snowfall and ice buildup has caused widespread congestion on roads in country NSW, forcing the closure of stretches of highway.

Parts of Australia have already received significant snow. Source: 7 News.
Parts of Australia have already received significant snow. Source: 7 News.
The first major cold snap of 2016. Source: Bureau of Meteorology.
The first major cold snap of 2016. Source: Bureau of Meteorology.

The Great Western Highway between Yetholme and Marangaroo, west of Lithgow, has been closed, as well as local roads in Oberon and Jenolan.

The New England Highway between Armidale and Glen Innes has also been shut to traffic.

The first major cold snap of 2016 began late this week when an east coast low swept across parts of the nation.

The ‘deep freeze’ began in South Australia on Thursday before heading east to reach Victoria, Tasmania, the ACT, NSW and south east Queensland by Friday.

News break – June 26