Tragic

Friday continued with a clear blue sky. The air temperature was up a little but the skiing was wonderful. Saturday was crowded with some 2000 in the resort for the NSW interschool finals on top of the usual weekenders, a chiropractic conference and many a local out enjoying the weather. Being day three of the four day interschools event we were all surprised by how great the weather had been BUT the forecasters were predicting foul weather for Sunday.

Wouldn’t you know it; the forecasters got it wrong again. Nothing like the scary forecast for 40mm of rain fell over Thredbo. It was far, far WORSE!

Who could believe 100mm (4 inches) of torrential rain would fall inside 24 hours. I awoke several times during the night to a noise like snow guns, only to realise it was rain on my balcony. During the day I watched from my window as the snow was washed away and the brown spots grew like cancers on the lower slopes.

In the middle of the afternoon Rosco ventured out onto the slopes to check out the damage. I thank him for the use of his photos which show some dramatic scenes.

Blue sky above Hi Noon on Friday

View from my Sunday window

Colourful snow art yesterday (Saturday)

Same sculpture today (Sunday) (photo by Rosco)

Interschools bumps course on Thursday

Looking down the remains of the bump course today (photo by Rosco)

Conrod Straight & Merritts Falls closed due to open creek (photo by Rosco)

Raging waters of Merritts Creek splitting the resort (photo by Rosco)

Rain damage above Tower 10 (photo by Rosco)

The resort is now virtually split into two halves. The closure of Conrod Straight and Merritts Falls means the only ways to get from Crackenback to Central Spur are via the bridge at the bottom of the Village Trail or via Sundowner (although I have no idea what state this is in). Bunny Walk will most certainly be closed leaving the Cat Walk as the only way from Central Spur back to Crackenback.

No doubt there will more closures and beyond the resort will be extremely dangerous until the flooding subsides and any weakened snow bridges collapse into the receding waters. Places like Stanleys could be potential death traps until it becomes obvious as to whether subs-surface water falls have left a mere veneer of snow over huge cliffs. Avalanche danger will be high all over the range with the moisture laden snow pack being much heavier than usual and with possible underlying streams stripping out the base.

BE CAREFUL – BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL!

Grumpy Report: I will leave that to Ski Patrol who have been working tirelessly in today’s downpour marking the new hazards. No doubt they will have much work ahead of them tomorrow as well.

We await to see what tomorrow will bring. It is currently snowing in the village.