Bathurst snowfall: Mount Panorama turns winter wonderland
Mount Panorama was looking more magical than usual on Thursday morning after Bathurst received a large overnight dumping of snow.
Caused by a cold front spanning across most of New South Wales, snow is forecast to fall as low as 500 metres above sea level.
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Photos taken by the National Motor Racing Museum show Bathurst and the famous circuit under a blanket of white, with the town expected to reach a high of six degrees Celsius today.
Taking a replica of the 2014 Bathurst 1000 winning Ford to experience the unusual weather event, National Motor Racing Museum Coordinator Brad Owens told Supercars.com: “It was properly snowing.
“It had been forecast, so we had been keeping an eye on it, and could see there was snow on the higher parts in town.
“I thought I would have a quick look up the mountain on the way to work, and I saw there was snow on top of the mountain, so we pulled the car out and took it up there.
“It was pretty amazing actually, the visibility kind of came in and the snow kept falling down.
“You certainly look at it and think, 'This is why they don’t race a Mount Panorama in winter'."
It’s the heaviest snow event the regional town has seen for six years, though Owens said Mount Panorama often receives a dusting during the winter months.
“It is pretty unusual that it snows in town itself,” he said.
“There’s been a few smatterings of snow on top of the mountain in the last few years, but 2015 was the last time it was really heavily setting for a long period of time on the mountain.
Photo: National Motor Racing Museum
“At the bottom of the mountain there is still a bit of snow, but it’s turned mostly to rain.”
Normally used for rides around the track for Father’s Day, the reproduction of Chaz Mostert and Paul Morris’ 2014 Bathurst-winning Ford Falcon reportedly handled the tricky conditions well.
“Because it’s a road car that’s dressed up as a race car, and we are taking it easy, it was a great experience,” Owens added.
“There are lots and lots of other people up there having a look around and taking the kids up there on the way to school.
“It’s a good chance for people to be looking at the track and museum too.”
Photo: National Motor Racing Museum
Motorists have been warned to take care and drive to the road conditions.
The Bureau of Meteorology forecast the cold front will continue until Friday and slowly move east on the weekend.
Overnight temperatures will reach as low as minus three degrees Celsius for Bathurst on Friday.
The Repco Supercars Championship field will return to the Northern Territory for the Merlin Darwin Triple Crown across June 18-20. Tickets are available here.
The event will be broadcast live on Foxtel and will be streamed on Kayo, and will be broadcast live and free on Seven.
