Jackson says crews have already started pretreating roads with salt and magnesium chloride, which is more effective in colder weather. Jackson explained that magnesium chloride loses its effectiveness between zero and 10 below zero but is more effective than rock salt in the teens and single-digit temperatures. Update from BOM – upcoming weather season, emergency processes should be seamless with prospect of bushfires, cyclones and floods – need for quick movement of firefighters and defence personnel across states/borders without imposing quarantine.  10°C © The Weather Company, LLC 2026 Tropical Cyclones “This winter storm will shut it all down,” said AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter. “This storm will have a variety of dangerous and life-threatening hazards. The combination of freezing rain, ice and heavy snow, followed by a deep freeze, increases the risk of widespread travel shutdowns, extended business and commerce disruptions and interruptions to daily life.