At Barrington Tops National Park nearly 800 visitors in 200 vehicles converged on the park as a cold air mass moved out from Antarctica, intensified over the Southern Ocean and passed across much of the state.

People from across the Upper Hunter took advantage of the weather event normally experienced during a European and North American winter.

The snow also dusted the Liverpool Ranges north-east of Merriwa, the ranges behind Dry Creek between Parkville and Wingen, Blandford, Murrurundi and above Timor.

The snow did have its negative side, with staff at Barrington Tops confirming that a Holden Colorado rolled on the Barrington Tops Forest Road. No one was injured.

A number of other vehicles broke down, or got bogged, in the snowy conditions and are still to be retrieved.

On Monday, the Barrington Tops Forest Road (Gloucester to Scone) at Cobar Park, the Dingo Gate, Dilgry Circle and Pheasants Creek Road were closed as the icy conditions persisted.

Those closures are being re-assessed in the coming days.

Meantime, the Bureau of Meteorology issued a Sheep Graziers alert on Tuesday afternoon, July 14.

It warned cold temperatures, rain and westerly winds are expected during Wednesday in parts of the Hunter and in nine other forecast districts.

Farmers are advised they face a high risk of lamb and sheep losses for animals exposed to these conditions.

Senior forecaster, Peter Zmijewski, said the chill will be with us for a little longer.

“We are staying within a cold air mass and there is a chance of snow on the Barrington Tops on Thursday, possibly down to 800 metres.

“Milder conditions are expected to develop over the weekend, but we’ll still see cold nights and more frosts west of the ranges,” he said.

This story first appeared in The Hunter Valley News.