Australian firefighters dreaming of a white Christmas had their wishes
come true with snow falling on mountains blackened by weeks of
bushfires. Light dustings of snow were reported by the Bureau of
Meteorology in the mountain regions of Tasmania and Victoria, the two
eastern states worst affected by Christmas season fires.
The burst of wintry weather is in stark contrast to the blistering
summer temperatures and high winds of the past few weeks that have
driven the fires that have destroyed dozens of homes.
Up to 50 millimetres (two inches) of rain on Christmas Eve brought snow
to mountain ski regions that have long been shut for the summer.
Blazes in December have burned out nearly 900,000 hectares (2.25 million
acres) of forests in Victoria -- an area about the size of Cyprus.
More than 800 firefighters have been sent home for Christmas with 900
remaining on duty over the Christmas season, local media reported.
(
Planet Ark, 27/12/2006)