Ruqayyah Snyder
While Australia is not typically considered a cold country, some locations in the states of Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, and Western Australia experience snowfall during the winter months from June to August. Snow in Western Australia is a rare occurrence, but it has been recorded since 1846. The highest peak in southern Western Australia, Bluff Knoll, is one of the few places to experience regular snowfalls in the state.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Snow in Western Australia | Rare at sea level, but common on the highlands of the southeast |
| Snowfall in Western Australia since | 1846 |
| Average snow events in Western Australia | 1.7 annually |
| Coldest place in Western Australia | Bluff Knoll |
| Highest peak in southern WA | Bluff Knoll (1098-1099 metres) |
| Snow in other parts of Australia | New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and Australian Capital Territory |
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What You'll Learn
Snow in Western Australia is rare at sea level
Western Australia experiences an average of 1.7 snow events annually, with snow falling in the state since records began in 1846. Snow typically falls on the 1,098-metre peak of Bluff Knoll, the highest peak in southern Western Australia. It has also been recorded as far north as Geraldton and as far east as Southern Cross. Snow has even been reported in the hills behind Perth, although Perth itself has never recorded snow on the ground.
In 2016, snow fell on Bluff Knoll three times, after only falling once in 2015. On April 19, 2019, a flurry was recorded on the peak, marking the earliest recorded snow event in a calendar year in Western Australia's history. Snow also covered the peaks of the Stirling Ranges in February 2024, as wild weather lashed southwest Western Australia.
The Stirling Range was formed as Australia broke away from Antarctica. The mountain range is composed of 1.2-billion-year-old sedimentary rocks, including sandstone, quartzite, slate, and shale. Bluff Knoll is the coldest place in Western Australia, with average August lows at the summit likely brushing freezing.
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Bluff Knoll, the coldest place in Western Australia, experiences regular snowfalls
While snow is rare at sea level in mainland Australia, it is more common in the highlands of the southeast, in the states of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory. Snow is a novelty in Western Australia, a state known for its beaches and summer heat. However, there is one place in Western Australia that experiences regular snowfalls: Bluff Knoll.
Bluff Knoll is the coldest place in Western Australia. With an elevation of 1,099 meters (3,606 ft) above sea level, it is the highest peak of the Stirling Range in the Great Southern region of the state. The local Aboriginal people, the Mineng and Koreng/Goreng sub-groups of the Noongar Nation, call the mountain "Boola Miyel" or "Pualaar Miial," meaning "great many-faced hill" or "many eyes," as the peak has rock formations that resemble eyes looking out across the valley.
The winters at Bluff Knoll are cold by Australian standards, with average August lows at the summit likely brushing freezing. The diurnal temperature variation is significantly greater in summer than in winter, averaging 12.1°C (21.8°F) in January and only 5.3°C (9.5°F) in July. Like most areas of southwestern Australia, more precipitation is recorded in winter, although individual precipitation events tend to be heavier in summer.
Bluff Knoll is one of the few places in Western Australia that experiences regular snowfalls, with some snow reported in most years. Snow was recorded on April 20, 1970, in the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) records, and a heavy snowfall of 20 centimeters was recorded on October 6, 1992. In 2016, snow fell on three occasions, and a flurry was recorded on the peak in the afternoon of April 19, 2019, the earliest recorded snow event in a calendar year in Western Australia's history. When snow is forecast, Bluff Knoll attracts hikers from all over the southwest region eager to experience the novelty of snow in Western Australia.
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Snow has been recorded in the hills behind Perth
While snow is rare at sea level in mainland Australia, it does snow in the country's southeastern highlands, in the states of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory. Snow has been recorded in every state and territory, though only the state capitals of Canberra, Hobart, and Melbourne have recorded snow. Snow sports are well-established in southeastern Australia and Tasmania, though climate change has reduced natural snowfall.
In April 2019, snow was recorded at the peak of Bluff Knoll, the earliest recorded snow event in a calendar year in Western Australia's history. Snow fell on three occasions in 2016, and there was a heavy snowfall of 20 centimeters in October 1992. The area is one of the coldest places in Western Australia, with summer temperatures mild and winter temperatures cold by Australian standards.
The Stirling Range, which includes Bluff Knoll, was formed as Australia broke away from Antarctica. The local Aboriginal people, the Mineng and Koreng/Goreng sub-groups of the Noongar Nation, call the mountain "Boola Miyel" or "Pualaar Miial," meaning "great many-faced hill" or "many eyes," due to the peak's rock formations.
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Snow fell in Stirling Range in 2019
Snow in Australia is rare at sea level, but it does snow in the highlands of the southeast, in the states of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory. Snow has been recorded in every state and territory, though among the state capitals, only Canberra, Hobart, and Melbourne have recorded snow.
Western Australia experiences an average of 1.7 snow events annually, though this number could be higher as meteorologists do not have an observational system to record them all. The Stirling Range, in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, is one of the few places in the state to experience regular snowfalls. The range's highest peak, Bluff Knoll, is 1,099 meters (3,606 feet) above sea level and is the coldest place in Western Australia.
In August 2019, a cold front blanketed the mountain peaks of the Stirling Range in snow. The icy blast saw a dusting of snow on the range in the early hours of Saturday morning. Dozens of people trekked up Bluff Knoll to catch a glimpse of the snow, with some camping in the car park overnight. This was not the first time snow had fallen in the Stirling Range that year, as a flurry was recorded on the peak of Bluff Knoll in April 2019. This was the earliest recorded snow event in a calendar year in the history of Western Australia.
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Snow sports are well-established in Tasmania
While snow is rare at sea level in mainland Australia, it does snow in southern and southwestern Tasmania on a near-annual basis during the winter and early spring months. Tasmania is the most southerly state in Australia, making it the best place for snow-based activities in the winter months of June, July, and August.
Tasmania has two ski resorts that stand out: Ben Lomond and Mount Mawson. Ben Lomond Snow Sports offers packages that include 4WD transport from the Launceston Central Business District to the ski resort, along with accommodation, meals, ski hire, and clothing rental. The packages usually have a minimum of two guests, and they are typically offered by small, independent firms. Mount Mawson, on the other hand, is less likely to offer package deals, and skiers and snowboarders often drive from Hobart for a day trip. While there is no accommodation near Ben Lomond, there are cabins, cottages, and holiday homes within ten kilometres of Mount Mawson, with other options available within a forty-kilometre radius.
Tasmania also offers a range of hiking opportunities in the snow. Liawenee, a small inland town, is the snowiest place in the state and is great for making snowmen and enjoying the scenery. Other places to visit include Mount Wellington (also known as Kunanyi), Mount Field National Park, The Central Highlands, The Hartz Mountains National Park, and Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, it snows in Western Australia. Bluff Knoll, the highest peak of the Stirling Range in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, experiences regular snowfalls.
It is estimated that Western Australia experiences an average of 1.7 snow events annually. However, this number could be higher as meteorologists do not have an observational system to record all snow events.
Snow has been recorded in the hills behind Perth and as far north as Geraldton. It has also been recorded in Southern Cross, 1896 and 1897 being the years.
Snow is more common in the winter months from June to August.
