THE MASSIVE dump of snow across large parts of the state overnight is causing traffic chaos with major arterial roads closed and a number of schools in the Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands closed.
More than 10cm of snow fell in Katoomba with falls experienced as far north as Armidale and south to Goulburn.
It’s not often kids in NSW get a snow day, but more than 40 schools in the mountains and highlands won’t open today because of the icy conditions.
The Great Western Highway, Mitchell Highway and New England Highway have all been closed due to snow or ice on the road and police and emergency services are urging drivers to avoid non-essential travel until this cold snap thaws.
“We are urging all road users to drive to the road conditions and exercise caution. In wet and cold conditions, roads will slippery and vehicles may take longer to stop,” Assistant Commissioner John Hartley said.
The treacherous conditions have been hampering paramedics who have been trying to respond to more than 20 crashes caused by the storms and snow.
“Snow, ice, strong winds and heavy rain are making for treacherous conditions for NSW Ambulance paramedics to respond to patients,” Chief Superintendent Simon Locke said.
The major arterial road between Sydney and Melbourne, the Hume Highway, was closed near Bowral but one lane in each direction has since been opened but the RMS is warning of big delays in the area.
Residents in the Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands are also experiencing power outages with Endeavour Energy reporting 8500 customers are affected.
The State Emergency Service set up a number of refuges in the Blue Mountains to provide shelter and food to stranded motorists.
The following road and school closures will be updated as more information becomes available:
SCHOOL CLOSURES
Bald Blair Public School
Ben Lomond Public School
Bigga Public School
Binda Public School
Binya Public School
Black Springs Public School
Blackheath Public School
Blayney High School
Blayney Public School
Burraga Public School
Capertee Public School
Carcoar Public School
Crookwell High School
Crookwell Public School
Cullen Bullen Public School
Euchareena Public School
Hampton Public School
Katoomba High School
Katoomba North Public School
Katoomba Public School
Laggan Public School
Leura Public School
Lithgow Public School
Lyndhurst Public School
Mandurama Public School
Meadow Flat Public School
Megalong Public School
Nashdale Public School
Neville Public School
Niangala Public School
Oberon High School
Oberon Public School
O’Connell Public School
Portland Central School
Rockley Public School
Taralga Public School
Turnkey Creek Public School
Wallerawang Public School
Wattle Flat Public School
Wyangala Dam Public School
Wytaliba Public School
The following schools in the Southern Highlands will have limited staff and students have been advised to stay at home:
St Paul’s Moss Vale
St Thomas Aquinus, Bowral
St Michaels, Mittagong
ROAD CLOSURES
Oxley Highway – Bendemeer to Walcha
Great Western Highway – Mt Victoria to Lawson
Great Western Highway – Bathurst to Marrangaroo (West of Lithgow)
Bells Line of Road – Bell to Mt Irvine
Duckmaloi Road – Oberon (between Oberon and Jenolan Caves Rd)
O’Connell Rd – Oberon
Mid Western Highway – Cowra to Blayney
Mitchell Highway – Orange to Bathurst
Hume Motorway – Berrima (at Berrima Turnoff)
New England Highway – between Glen Innes and Armidale
Crookwell – Goulburn to Crookwell Rd
Perisher to Charlotte Pass Lookout
Khancoban to Cabramurra
Smiggin Holes to Guthega Link Rd
TRAFFIC AFFECTED
Kosciuszko National Park (all directions)
Kosciuszko Rd
Alpine Way
Snowy Mountains Hwy
Guthega Rd
Elliot Way
Perisher to Charlotte Pass Lookout (road closed at Perisher)
Khancoban to Cabramurra – road closed
Smiggin Holes to Guthega Link Rd – road closed
POWER OUTAGES
Blue Mountains: 1100 customers without supply
Southern Highlands: 1100 customers affected
FLOODING ALERTS
Coonamble
Cobar
Far Western Region – Broken Hill
Central Darling
Carrathool