There was snow on the Alps today as Victoria enjoyed a brief reprieve from the record-breaking "dome of heat" that's engulfed the continent.
On a day when the zones of purple — representing 50-52 degrees — have disappeared from forecast charts, Mt Hotham confirmed that they received snow flurries – snow that falls but does not last on the ground – and the state's other peaks probably did as well, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
"Hotham Alpine Resort received snow flurries around 7am this morning with the temperature dropping to -3 windchill," said spokeswoman Gina Woodward. "Pretty incredible considering we're in the middle of a Dome of Heat."
Bureau senior forecaster Scott Williams said that Mt Hotham fell to -1 overnight, while Falls Creek and Mt Buller reached zero.
"I suspect if anywhere got snow it was Mt Baw Baw, where they may not have had anyone to see it."
Snow, while uncommon, does fall in summer in Victoria, he said. There was a light dusting of snow in early December on the Alps as temperatures plunged below zero.
"We literally have gone from one extreme to the other," said Mr Williams. "It's quite cold over the state today and the good thing is that it's pushed that very hot air we had over us a long way north, up to northern New South Wales.
"It's given us a couple of days respite from the heat."
Melbourne will reach 37 on Friday before falling to the mid-20s on the weekend.
