Snow has been falling on the Blue Mountains this morning as a burst of cold, unstable southerly winds surge across the region. There has been a mix of snow flakes, sleet, hail and thunder. The snow even became heavy for a time in the Katoomba area. It is a rare event for the region. Snow in October has been reported about five times in the last 50 years. Also this morning, for the first time in a few weeks, widespread steady rain in Sydney is making roads slippery. Since about midnight Ingleburn has had 32mm and the city 11mm. The snow wont last long as the small area of unstable air heads to the Hunter where there is only a slight chance of snow on the highest ground. Rain will also ease in Sydney in the next few hours but cold southerly winds will become stronger during the day. Sydney is likely to have its coldest October day in at least 16 years, reaching just 15 degrees.