Record cold snap brings hail, snow and a magical sunrise
![Hikers were treated to a magical Easter sunrise.](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/B881174667Z/1555757792311_G4P263LU4.1-2.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
The fascination with taking photos in the buff on Bluff Knoll took a back seat this weekend as hikers braved sub-zero temperatures for a magical snowy sunrise.
The snow which settled on Bluff Knoll on Easter Friday was the earliest snowfall documented in the State’s history, beating the previous — set in 1970 — by just one day.
![David Readhead reached the top of Bluff Knoll while it was still snowing.](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/B881174667Z/1555757792311_G4P263IAT.1-0.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
A few weather watchers reached the summit while it was still snowing on Friday.
Others made the journey early the next morning for a very special sunrise.
![Sean Standen captured this image of the snowy sunrise.](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/B881174667Z/1555757792311_G4P263IB2.1-0.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
While the highest reaches of the Stirling Range copped a dusting, the city of Albany and surrounding towns copped a hammering of hail.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s weather station at Albany Airport produced an “apparent temperature” of -2.1C just after 1.30pm when the ambient temperature was a chilly 6C.
![Albany was blanketed by hail.](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/B881174667Z/1555757792311_G4P263L5A.1-0.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
The apparent or “feels like” temperatures takes into account wind and humidity.
That was shortly before the skies opened up and blanketed parts of the city with hail.
![Boyd Rae making the most of the hail on his snowboard.](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/B881174667Z/1555757792311_G4P263L6F.1-0.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
Albany locals made the most of the icy conditions, creating snowmen and even pulling out a boogie board or a snowboard for some impromptu extreme sports.
The cold blast will not last, however, with the temperature in set to peak at 26C by this time next week.
![An Albany “snowman”.](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/B881174667Z/1555757792311_G4P263LHL.1-0.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
ALBANY FORECAST
Monday — Min. 8C / Max. 23C
Tuesday — Min. 10C / Max. 21C
Wednesday — Min. 12C / Max. 21C
Thursday — Min. 12C / Max. 21C
Friday — Min. 13C / Max. 24C
Saturday — Min. 13C / Max. 26C
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