Australia has been hit by a wild mix of weather, with snow, hail, dust storms and dangerous winds sweeping across multiple states.

Residents in parts of NSW and Victoria woke to the first snow of the year, with falls of up to 8cm recorded across alpine regions as temperatures plunged below zero.

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Snow was reported across the Australian Alps, with ski resorts including Falls Creek, Hotham, Perisher and Thredbo all receiving their first snowfall — despite it only being early autumn.

“We’re thrilled to have received a very special delivery just before Easter, our first snowfall for 2026!” Falls Creek manager Betony Pitcher said.

“The team up here at Falls Creek could not be more excited as we put the finishing touches into our summer projects.”

Falls Creek has had its first snowfall in 2026. Credit: Falls Creek

Snow was also reported as far north as Orange in the Central Tablelands.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) warned blizzard conditions could hit alpine areas on Friday, easing later in the day and into early Saturday.

However, conditions are not expected to ease across the Illawarra, South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, South West Slopes, Snowy Mountains and the ACT, where cold temperatures, heavy rain and strong southwesterly winds are forecast.

The bureau also warned sheep graziers of potential livestock losses due to the harsh conditions.

Damaging surf is developing along central and southern coasts, driven by a vigorous coastal low off southern NSW on Friday.

The system is expected to generate gale to storm-force southerly winds and very large, powerful seas.

Damaging wind warnings are also in place for southeastern NSW, with gusts along the South Coast and Illawarra forecast to reach up to 110km/h — and potentially 120km/h in exposed areas.

Further north, wind warnings extend along the NSW coast, with storm-force conditions also forecast for the Hunter.

Strong winds were also fuelling total fire bans and high and extreme fire risks in the New England and Northern Slopes regions.

Gale warnings have also been issued for Sydney’s enclosed waters and the Macquarie Coast, while strong wind warnings extend to the Coffs Coast.

Meanwhile, NSW is cleaning up after wild storms battered parts of the state overnight, toppling trees and blanketing suburbs in hail.

The NSW SES responded to more than 400 call-outs, while more than 5000 homes in Sydney were still left without power on Friday morning.

A hailstorm hit Menangle Park on Thursday. Credit: Lamia Ahmed

In Sydney’s southwest, photos from Menangle Park show hailstones piled into large mounds after the storm.

In western NSW, Dubbo was hit by a powerful dust storm, with winds of up to 115km/h toppling a crane in the CBD on Thursday afternoon.

More than 15,000 households across the region lost power, including traffic lights in Dubbo’s CBD.

Queensland, meanwhile, is dealing with major flood warnings, including along the Thomson River and Cooper Creek.

At the same time, Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle continues to batter Western Australia.

Huge trees have been brought down in Karratha, WA by destructive winds as the storm hits. Credit: Emma Davis/West Weather Watchers

The system strengthened to a category 4 cyclone, with sustained winds near the centre reaching 175km/h and gusts of up to 250km/h.

Communities from Mardie to Jurien Bay — including Onslow, Exmouth, Coral Bay, Carnarvon, Denham and Geraldton — have been impacted, with warnings extending inland.

BOM said Narelle has begun weakening and is expected to continue to weaken as it tracks south-southeast into Saturday.