Heavy snow blankets NSW Northern Tablelands
Some of the heaviest snowfalls in years have turned the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales into a white, wintry landscape more reminiscent of the Snowy Mountains in the state’s south.
Up to 15cm of snow was reported by midday in the town of Guyra (population approx. 2000) by local Shane Battistuzzi, who took these pictures of his yard and nearby areas after the snowfall began around 7am.
The snow soon started to accumulate rapidly. This was the scene at 8am.
Image: Guyra begins to turn white on the morning of Saturday, August 2, 2025. Source: Shane Battistuzzi.
By 10am, the snow was already noticeably deeper in Mr Battistuzzi’s yard.
Image: The snow just kept on coming down in Guyra on the morning of Saturday, August 2, 2025. Source: Shane Battistuzzi.
And this was a view of a nearby landscape in town at midday.
Image: Guyra’s exotic trees gave the town a distinctly European appearance under a blanket of snow by midday on Saturday, August 2, 2025. Source: Shane Battistuzzi.
Guyra, at an elevation of 1330m, is the highest town of any significant size in Australia outside of the alpine region.
For the organisers of the town’s annual Guyra Snow Ball, the timing of today’s weather could hardly have been more perfect. The ball takes place this evening and bills itself as a "guaranteed fabulous freezing night out!"
For those attending the ball or simply trying to drive through town without incident, the New England Highway through Guyra was still open early on Saturday afternoon, however it soon closed due to snow, ice and fallen trees on the road.
???? GLENN INNES TO MOONBI: The New England Highway is closed in both directions due to ❄️ Snow, Ice and fallen trees.
— Live Traffic NSW (@LiveTrafficNSW) August 2, 2025
❌ Motorists are advised to avoid these areas
???? For the latest traffic information, visit https://t.co/OWrFEq3ddF
A little further south, the Oxley Highway between Bendemeer and Walcha was closed due to snow and ice. Much of that stretch of road sits at around 1000m above sea level – the altitude to which snow was predicted to fall in northern NSW this Saturday.
The Waterfall Way between Armidale and the tiny village of Ebor at an elevation of 1350m was also closed due to snow and ice. Please check Live Traffic NSW for the latest information on all roads and highways in NSW.
What caused this snowy outbreak?
The snowy conditions have been caused by the combination of an upper-level pool of cold air and a low pressure system just off the northern NSW coast pushing moisture inland.
Image: Four-hour combined radar and satellite loop for northern NSW (with the town of Guyra at centre) on the morning of Saturday, August 2, 2025.
The chance of light snow showers was also in the forecast for the highest parts of Queensland’s Granite Belt in the state’s far south. By Saturday afternoon, light snow showers had begun to occur around Stanthorpe and nearby towns above about 800 metres.
Meanwhile in the NSW and Victorian alpine region this Saturday afternoon, the temperature is hovering around zero – much like in Guyra and the highest parts of the NSW Northern Tablelands, 1000km north.
While the snowpack in the highest reaches of the ski resorts is deep at almost two metres after a snowy June and July, there was considerably less fresh snow on the ground this morning than at Guyra Golf Course, where one local was spotted skiing.