Australian snow, rain and heat linked by blocked weather systems, climatologist says

This week's persistent snow in the east has been driven by a blocking high in the Bight. (Supplied: Chris Hocking)

This week's near-record snowfalls in the east, and the days and days of upcoming rain forecast for Perth, share one crucial factor with the Lismore floods, last year's 49-degree Celsius heatwave in Canada, and many of Australia's most destructive extreme weather events.