Melbourne has shivered through its coldest August day in almost six years, with snow falling in parts of the state.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The temperature struggled to a top of 10.3 degrees around 11am on Friday, making it the coldest August day since August 21, 2008.
Bureau of meteorology forecaster Peter Blake said Friday was also the coldest day this year.
The icy temperatures have led to freak snowfall just kilometres from the beach in Lorne, into the Otways, and across the Macedon Ranges and Grampians.
Lorne resident Mark Athorn said it was snowing at his property, four kilometres from the coast towards Erskine Falls, and about 350 metres above sea level.
“It’s only the third time in 15 years that it’s snowed here,” Mr Athorn said. “As soon as it got light, I looked outside and there it was: all these flakes were falling.”
About five centimetres of snow also fell in Ballarat, making it one of the heaviest snowfalls there in recent memory.
The mercury in Ballarat reached a top of just 4.5 degrees around 4pm. although it would have felt closer to a bone-chilling -0.2 degrees once wind chill had been taken into account.
Some light showers are forecast for Melbourne on Saturday, with a top temperature of 13 degrees expected.
