'Incredible': Snow in South Australia stuns residents
Snow has fallen in regional South Australia in what’s been called an “incredible” sight by residents.
Michelle Reynolds, of Skytrek Willow Springs Station, near the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park told Yahoo News Australia that she woke to snow on Friday at about 7am.
Ms Reynolds’ family have owned the property, located north of Adelaide, since 1952 and it’s the first time they have seen snow in the valley.
“It’s incredible. I’ve never seen it snow here before,” Ms Reynolds said.
“My father’s lived here his whole life and never experienced this. My partner’s never seen snow either.
“It’s been an interesting morning that’s for sure.”
Ms Reynolds added snow can sometimes be seen on the peaks around the mountains but she’s never seen it fall on her property which sits at the bottom of a valley.
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She, her family and staff on the property spent the morning having snowball fights.
“We tried to make snowmen but they were epic failures,” she said.
“The snow’s on its way out now but there’s still some visible on the driveway.”
Holidaymaker Heather told ABC radio on Friday she experienced snow at Wilpena Pound about 30km south of where Ms Reynolds is.
"I've never seen snow, so it was really exciting to actually see it in South Australia,” she told the ABC.
"We went outside in our pyjamas and bare feet and beanies and it was snow. The flakes were like great big fluffy soap suds.”
She added the snow was about 1.5-2cm thick.
On Facebook, people were shocked by the snowy scenes with one woman calling the photos “amazing” and “beautiful”.
“Oh wow. What a sight that would be to see,” another woman wrote.
One man called the transformation into a winter wonderland “absolutely amazing”.
‘Very cold southeasterly air mass’ causing snow
Weatherzone meteorologist Joel Pippard told Yahoo News on Wednesday, Flinders Ranges could be in for some snow which is “definitely unusual”.
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Simon Timcke said the snow is actually being caused by a rain mechanism.
But because the temperature in the area is so cold, precipitation is falling as snow.
“We’re based in Mount Lofty where it’s been about 2-3 degrees,” he said.
“But further north at Flinders Ranges would be even colder.
“It’s from a very cold southeasterly air mass.”
Mr Timcke added it does snow in the Flinders Ranges about once or twice a year around the mountain peaks.
It’s not known exactly when or if it’s snowed before where Ms Reynolds lives however she said it’s the first time her family who have lived on the property for more than 60 years have experienced it on her doorstep.
Mr Timcke said it’s possible the area could see some more snow in the early hours of Saturday morning but it should largely be gone by sunrise.
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