UNSEASONALLY heavy snowfalls blanketed the higher parts of the Bathurst region yesterday causing havoc on local roads as icy weather conditions moved in from the south.
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At a time of year, when spring blossoms are on the trees, it was an eerie sight to see snow everywhere from Walang through to the Blue Mountains.
Such was the dumping that police closed the Great Western Highway and Bells Line of Road in both directions mid-morning.
Road blocks were in place at Mount Victoria, Wentworth Falls and Mt Tomah as motorists scrambled to find traction in the dangerous conditions.
The same scenario greeted motorists heading south with Abercrombie Road at Oberon – between Little River and Abercrombie River Bridge – as well as Edith Road and Shooters Hill Roads also closed due to heavy snow.
It was all too much for Goulburn trucker Daniel Stranger from Divall’s Baulk Haulage.
He pulled over at the bottom of the hill leading up to the service station at Yetholme after deciding it was too dangerous to press on.
“I was supposed to be heading to Newcastle, but the boys back at base in Goulburn said to head home because the road’s closed at Mount Vic,” Mr Stranger said. “There’s so much snow around for this time of year I can’t believe it. It’s so slippery out there.”
While taking a break before turning around, Mr Stranger took time out to make a snowman before taking a series of photographs on his mobile phone. “These are for the blokes back in Goulburn. They wouldn’t believe me otherwise,” he said.
Weatherzone.com.au said the temperature climbed to only 6.8 degrees at noon yesterday.
Today’s forecast is for an overnight low of minus one degree ahead of a top of 16 degrees with late showers.
