THE Bathurst region was transformed into a winter wonderland yesterday when freezing temperatures swept through the Central Tablelands.
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Snow fell at Yetholme, Blayney, Oberon, Lithgow and Orange, as well as in Blackheath and Medlow Bath, overnight on Thursday and early yesterday morning.
While no snow fell in Bathurst, temperatures reached a minimum of 0.6 degrees, but felt as low as -5.7 degrees due to winds.
While the majority of people chose to spend the day rugged up indoors, others headed out in search of snow.
A number of brave souls went to Yetholme in the morning to make the most of the weather.
“We heard that there was snow and we just thought that we would head out and try and find some,” said Bathurst resident Clarissa Thomas, who brought her family to Yetholme.
“My children are loving it, especially my daughter Tully. She has been making lots of snow balls and would stay here for hours if it was up to her.
“She has never really seen proper snow before and wants to attempt to build a snowman.”
Others, like Melbourne truck driver Glenn Cameron, who was headed for the Mudgee region, were a bit annoyed to be out in the cold.
“I came up from Melbourne on Friday and then I pulled over here at Yetholme to sleep for the night,” he said.
“There was snow all around when I woke up and I could not start my truck.
“It is not exactly the best condition to break down in, but the highway has been closed, so I would have been stuck for a bit anyway.”
Heavy snow and black ice did wreak havoc on the Great Western Highway, which was closed in both directions between Bathurst and Lithgow from around 6.50am to 9.50am.
The Great Western Highway was also blocked in both directions at Blackheath due to a truck accident before 6.30am, and eastbound lanes at Katoomba were affected by a three vehicle accident.
The Duckmaloi Road was also closed between 8.50am and around 11.30am, while snow and black ice also affected conditions on the Jenolan Caves Road in Hampton and the Mitchell Highway near Orange.
Weatherzone meteorologist Max Gonzales said a strong cold front which moved through NSW on Thursday was responsible for the snowfall.
He said while no more snowfall was forecast for the region, temperatures would remain low over the next few days.
