There's been heavy snow in Australia and people don't know what's going on

Even the ‘Sunshine state’ Queensland has been blanketed.

Bill Shrapnel / Colmar Estate/AP Bill Shrapnel / Colmar Estate/AP / Colmar Estate/AP

HEAVY SNOWFALL HAS hit parts of Australia in what has been described as the coldest July weather in four decades.

It came as a surprise in particular in Queensland which is known as the ‘Sunshine State’.

Queensland: the snowshine state. Gallery: http://t.co/kNBqizcQFy (Pic: Josie Carter) pic.twitter.com/WVXXNUuNY6
— The Australian (@australian) July 17, 2015

The Australian / Twitter

The Guardian reports the snow has fallen in parts of the country where this type of weather is so rare that they do not have the tools to measure it.

And people just don’t know what to do with it…

We are used to our #snowmen being sandy. Well, this is awkward :) --> http://t.co/0CjKLgim5K pic.twitter.com/aZljgXdUYB
— Queensland Australia (@Queensland) July 17, 2015

Queensland Australia / Twitter

Here's my wife's shot of our yard in Blackheath at about 5am, its even thicker now. pic.twitter.com/XQzIEJoyy4
— Blackheath Weather - Blue Mountains NSW. Australia (@BlackheathWx) July 16, 2015

Blackheath Weather / Twitter

Residents of the Granite Belt have woken to white winter wonderland. 8cm of snow has fallen http://t.co/QvPY5BGOIY pic.twitter.com/FyNhi03c8Z
— Kim Stephens (@_MicrowaveJenny) July 16, 2015

Kim Stephens / Twitter

Welcome to @Queensland , we currently have some technical issues, Weather shall be fixed in 6 months.
@MiladyEly pic.twitter.com/2rVXuVQcev
— Kat (@KatRose1997) July 17, 2015

Kat / Twitter

When in #Katoomba... Photo of Katoomba St by Hayley West of the Blue Mountains Social Group. http://t.co/e5PrDqfh5l pic.twitter.com/Zk8AI9igrU
— ABC Sydney (@abcsydney) July 17, 2015

702 ABC Sydney / Twitter

Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology said the snowstorms are due to a low pressure system that moved a cold air mass in off the coast of New South Wales. It also said there are “more freezing nights to come”.

Meanwhile in Ireland…

weather.com weather.com

Read: Some parts of the country might be lucky enough to avoid the rain this weekend>

Incoming: Met Éireann has just issued a wind warning for the west…>

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