Early taste of winter



VICTORIANS have had an early taste of winter as the state went from sunshine to snow falls within days. Snow fell on alpine areas across the state, including more than 15cm at Falls Creek, prompting some to predict a bumper season. "It's a very significant snowfall. This is by far the best snow we've so far," Falls Creek Resort spokesman Ian Talbot said yesterday. "It's been suggested we're going to have a winter like we did in 2000, when we actually opened two weeks early. It's blizzard-like conditions here."

SES volunteers were called to remove 10 cars stuck in the snow at Falls Creek after the snap freeze surprised drivers. Mt Buller also received more than 10cm of snow and the temperature plummeted to -1.9C at 11am. "It's always exciting when we see kids building snowmen and throwing snowballs weeks before the season officially begins," Buller Ski Lifts' general manager Laurie Blampied said. The ski season officially opens on the Queen's Birthday weekend on June 7.

"It's a taste of winter, but I don't think it will remain this cold from now."

_{Bron: Herald Sun}