November 22, 2008

So, It Snowed in New South Wales Today. So?

What’s the problem with that? It’s November 22nd (the 23rd in Australia), after all, and—

The problem is, while we’re into late autumn Up Over, Down Under it’s almost summer (which starts December 1st.) Believe me, I’ve spent Christmas and New Year’s in southeastern Australia, and it’s a freaking sauna, even as far south on the continent as NSW.

(Remember, Down Under, north is warm, and south is cold. The southern end is closer to Antarctica; if you want to see the most wondrous, touching sight in all of Australia, the fairy penguin parade, you don’t have to drive but a short ways out of Melbourne. That’s how cold the south is — but only in the winter, which is, more or less, during our summer.)

Snow in NSW - a week before summer

Gale force winds and snow in the NSW central-west are keeping State Emergency Service volunteers busy, just a week from the start of summer.

Since Friday, SES crews have responded to 18 requests for assistance in the Blayney, Bathurst, Lithgow and Orange areas.

Most of the damage has been caused by falling trees, but local roads are also being monitored after snow falls on Saturday night. …

“It’s very unusual the week before summer to have such weather conditions,” Mr Ronan said. …

That’s the understatement of the year.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for NSW, with a deep low pressure system off the South Coast expected to bring gale-force winds to most of the state before it moves east late on Sunday.

Winds are expected to average 65kmh with peak gusts in excess of 90kmh.

Blizzard conditions are also anticipated in alpine areas of the Southern Tablelands, South West Slopes and the ACT. …

ACT = Australian Capital Territory.

Here’s a map.

The point: Naaaaaaaaaaaaaah, there’s nothing to all that global-warming hooey from those godless scientists! (And never you mind that California enjoyed gorgeous, summer-like, 80-degree weather all last week, when we should have been huddling under blankets while cold rain pelted the roof.)

Meanwhile, also Down Under, 52 pilot whales ran aground on Tasmania and died. And nobody knows why.

Posted by: Sapphocrat

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