Heavy snow closes roads
Severe weather conditions and unprepared drivers forced police to close roads into Mt Baw Baw on Sunday.
The arctic blast that took hold on Sunday saw snow fall and settle around the Neerim and Neerim South area but for snow goers, the severe conditions prevented many getting to Mt Baw Baw.
Overnight temperatures recorded at Nilma’s Bureau of Meteorology station saw temperatures drop to 3.3 degrees Celsius at 8.30pm on Saturday night and then continued to hover around zero and down to -1.9 at 3am on Sunday morning. It took until 10.30am for the temperature to climb to 2.6 degrees Celsius.
Police were forced to close access roads after a number of minor collisions, which they said were largely caused by motorists being unprepared with no chains or lack of experience.
Social media updates from Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort warned snow goers that snow was falling heavily, and they were unlikely to open Resort Rd until at least lunchtime.
The resort advised people to delay their journey because safety was the main concern. “Please do not attempt to travel up to Mt Baw Baw resort today,” they advised.
At 11.30, the resort advised police had closed inbound lanes of South Face Rd at the entrance and Mt Baw Baw Tourist Rd at Tanjil Bren.
By noon, all roads remained closed and the resort advised motorists not to drive through road closures as “the conditions are dangerous and snow is continuing to fall very heavily.”
Police said the road closure at Tanjil Bren remained in place until 2pm with a police presence and the visual messaging signs were in place to advise motorists of road conditions.
Vehicles were turned back at Icy Creek.
Police said there were a number of collisions on roads leading to Mt Baw Baw.
In one incident, a motorist tried to assist a vehicle that had slid off the edge of South Face Rd.
Police said in many cases motorists were “ill-equipped and had a lack of knowledge” in driving to those severe conditions.
Police urged motorists travelling to alpine areas to always carry chains and to change their driving behaviour and drive to conditions, which could change very quickly.
Mt Baw Baw has recorded 60 centimetres of natural snow and has five of its seven lifts operating.
Social media reports early Sunday morning also indicated there was ice and snow across the Princes Fwy near the Robin Hood exit at Drouin.