HUNTER snow chasers could finally get the first winter dusting at Barrington Tops this week as cold conditions continue.
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The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast the first snow fall of the season to hit overnight, with the mercury to drop to minus one degrees on Tuesday and zero on Wednesday.
Closer to the coast residents can expect more rain as showers hang around in Newcastle until the end of the working week.
Related content: Barrington Tops snow in 2017
Monday also brings a severe weather warning for the city.
A front crossing the state will deepen into a low pressure system off the southern half of the coast later in the day. A trough associated with the low will sweep from south to north during Tuesday, generating vigorous southerly winds and dangerous surf.
Damaging winds averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts in excess of 90 km/h are expected to develop along the coastal fringe.
Heavy surf in excess of five metres, may lead to localised damage.
The expected extra-large south swell combined with very strong winds means most beaches and rock platforms will be extremely treacherous this week. Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steven Pearce urged the public to take extreme caution if they are visiting the coast.
The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
- Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
- Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
- Keep at least eight metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.
- Report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid (131 388), Endeavour Energy (131 003), Essential Energy (132 080) or Evoenergy (131 093) as shown on your power bill.
- For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 132 500.
Despite the rain and severe wind conditions it could be a drier than normal winter.
The Bureau's winter climate outlook, released on Thursday, May 30, shows that eastern and central Australia is unlikely to receive the above average rainfall many have been hoping for.
"Southeastern Australia could see a dry start to winter, with the models showing June rainfall is likely to be below average in NSW, Victoria, eastern South Australia, and southern parts of both Queensland and the Northern Territory," the bureau's long-range forecasting manager, Andrew Watkins said.
"Drier than average conditions typically mean more cloud-free nights, which increases the risk of frost in susceptible areas."
Dr Watkins said temperatures across the rest of winter were very likely to be warmer than average.
"Our climate outlook shows most states and territories have large areas where chances are greater than 80 per cent for warmer than average days," he said.
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