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In an almost unbelievable weather forecast, there’s a possibility of snow falling in the middle of the Australian desert this weekend.
The chance is ever so slight but the Bureau of Meteorology says “brief snow flurry” may fall on the Northern Territory’s highest point on Saturday morning.
If Mount Zeil, about 150 kilometres west of Alice Springs, does enjoy a light dusting, it’s not likely to settle on the ground.
But it would nevertheless be historic, with no official bureau records of snow in the Top End.
“Although very unlikely, a brief snow flurry is possible on Saturday morning on the highest peaks of southern NT (Mt Zeil elevation 1531m above sea level) but if it does occur snow isn’t likely to settle on the ground,” a spokesperson said.
Forecasters expect temperatures in the surrounding area to soar into the high 20s or low 30s — about 5-10 degrees above average — before plunging into the low to mid teens — 5-10 degrees below average — from Thursday.
It’s all driven by a “significant rain band” stretching across Central Australia — from Broome almost to Adelaide — bringing cold weather and heavy rain that may lead to flooding.
The bureau expects the heaviest rainfall will hit the Kimberley and Interior of WA along with southern and central parts of the Northern Territory.
Flood watches have already been issued in both states, along with road closures for the Gibb River Road, which will close on Tuesday.
Catchments likely to be affected include the Tanami Desert, Barkly Southern, Central Desert, Western Desert, MacDonnell Ranges, Finke River and Stephenson Creek, Warburton District Rivers, Eastern Great Victoria Desert, Simpson Desert and Sturt Creek.
The bureau said widespread daily rainfall totals of 10-30 millimetres were likely to be recorded in the flood watch areas.
The rain band is expected to weaken across the central and eastern Kimberley on Wednesday but further rainfall may redevelop later in the week.
