The last few days brought 40 to 100mm of rain to alpine areas, washing away and melting the existing snow cover, Brett Dutschke, senior meteorologist at weatherzone.com.au reports.

The air mass in the unstable northerly winds that brought all the rain was yet to warm. By the time the winds turned colder, the air became too dry to bring any worthwhile fresh snow.

Only the peaks and southernmost resorts picked up a little fresh snow and only after the heaviest rain in two to four months.

Mount Buller had about 50mm of rain before it got cold enough for snow, but only about one centimetre of fresh snow fell.

One of the snowiest resorts was Mount Baw Baw, because it was in a favourable location for the colder southerly wind change.

About five centimetres of fresh snow fell, but this was after gaining 50mm of rain.

The heaviest rain fell in Thredbo, where the village had its heaviest in five months, picking up 85mm. But it stayed above freezing the whole time it rained.

It's not all bad news. Light snow falling today and tomorrow will provide a dusting of a few centimetres. Also the next several nights will be good for snow-making, chilling below freezing.

However, the next decent fresh dump of snow will not be for at least another week.

smh.com.au

Weatherzone.com.au is owned by Fairfax Media, publisher of this website.

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