Double joy as drought-breaking rain arrives and snow covers the alps

After months of relentless dry conditions and record-low rainfall, farmers in Victoria enjoyed much-needed relief on Saturday as rain finally arrived across the state.
For many living in drought-affected communities, this weekend marked a make-or-break moment, and nature didn't disappoint.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), the skies opened up on Friday, and widespread rain began to soak the state. By Saturday morning, much of western Victoria had received up to 20 millimetres of rain.
Senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said the Wimmera and south-west Victoria felt the full force, with some of the heaviest falls.
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Edenhope in Victoria's west, which had only seen 70 millimetres of rain all year, was treated to 27 millimetres in just one day. Horsham, Warracknabeal, Warrnambool and Portland also reported between 10 and 20 millimetres.
But it wasn't just rain – snow made a stunning appearance, too. The Victorian Alpine region, which includes popular ski resorts Mount Buller, Falls Creek, and Mount Hotham, saw fresh snow blanketing the slopes on Saturday morning, in time for the official start of the 2025 ski season.
Narramore said these areas received between 10 and 20 centimetres of snow overnight, with forecasts predicting an additional 15 to 30 centimetres by Sunday afternoon.
'You're looking at two-day totals of 30 to 50 centimetres for the mountains by the time we get to Sunday night. A very snowy weekend, perfectly timed for the opening of the ski season,' he said.

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