SYDNEY, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Australian ski resorts have recorded their biggest snowfall of the season on Monday, to the delight of skiers and snowboarders in the eastern states.
The Snowy Mountains in New South Wales (NSW) and Alpine National Park in Victoria both recorded their best falls of the season, thanks to what Communications Manager at Thredbo Ski Resort in NSW Susie Diver called "the Blizzard of Oz."
"People are very excited, it's the best fall of the season. There's so much fresh snow out there, and that's exactly what skiers and snowboarders love," Diver told Xinhua on Monday.
"Weather is always an unpredictable beast, so it's fantastic to see this great fall."
In just over three days, more than 1.15 metres of snow had fallen at Thredbo, while Mt Hotham in Victoria experienced around 80 cm of snow in just 24 hours.
Over 830,000 people visit the Snowy Mountains every year, including more than 16,000 international tourists, and according to state tourism data from Destination NSW, around 30 percent of these international travellers are from Asia.
While visitors come to test their mettle in the snow year round, August is usually a busy season for the slopes, as ski enthusiasts enjoy the final month of the Australian winter.
"We've had plenty of people out there, both locals and visitors, and they are really making the most of it - I'm making the most of it too," Diver said.
While skiers and snowboarders, and resort managers, are delighted by the winter wonderland, authorities have warned locals and tourists to exercise caution when travelling to alpine regions.
Victoria Roads regional director Nicki Kyriakou said on Monday that a number of roads have been closed amid concerns about driver safety in the blizzard conditions.
"Heavy snowfalls and hazardous conditions have forced the closure of several roads in Victoria's alpine region," Kyriakou said.
