Blizzards, damaging winds forecast for NSW and Victoria
The weather bureau is forecasting blizzard conditions and damaging winds for parts of NSW, while strong winds have downed trees in Victoria.
The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting strong northwesterly winds, affecting the Snowy Mountains, Southern Tablelands, South West Slopes and the ACT.
They are expected to intensify throughout Monday with snowfall in the west of the Snowy Mountains.
Blizzards are expected on the South West Slopes and higher peaks of the ACT ranges on Tuesday.
Damaging winds up to 80km/h with gusts up to 110 km/h are expected to extend to the coast and Central Ranges by Tuesday afternoon.
The SES advises residents in these areas to move vehicles away from trees and secure loose outdoor items.
Strong winds down trees in Victoria
Strong wind gusts have swept across Victoria, bringing down trees, ahead of colder conditions this week that will bring the first real dump of snow.
The SES received about 30 requests for help overnight, mainly for trees that had fallen on roads.
The weather bureau issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds and blizzard conditions for the Wimmera, North Central, North East, South West, Central, West and South Gippsland and East Gippsland areas for Monday.
The highest wind gust recorded so far has been 128km/h at Mt William, near the Grampians in the state's southwest, just after midnight, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
Gusts reaching 104km/h were also recorded at Mt Buller about 7am on Monday.
In Melbourne, South Channel Island in Port Phillip Bay recorded 95km/h wind gusts at about 4.20am while Tullamarine Airport had gusts of 91km/h gusts at about 2.30am.
"As far as today goes, the worst of the conditions is likely to be this morning and then we'll have an easing trend this afternoon," bureau forecaster Andrea Peace said.
"It's been right through since midnight we've been seeing these gusts and we do expect the stronger winds to contract eastwards throughout today.
"It's still going to be quite windy but probably not quite as windy as what we'll see this morning."
As colder air moves through the state later on Monday, there is a possibility of hail and thunderstorms.
But strong winds, along with cold air, will develop again on Tuesday with the squally conditions possibly bringing hail early in the day.
The colder weather could also bring the first real cold outbreak and a decent dusting of snow to the Alpine areas and Mt Dandenong, Ms Peace said.
"We're expecting up to maybe 20-30cm of snow over the next few days," she said.
SES spokeswoman Frances Haire said it was expecting more severe weather later on Monday and on Tuesday, which may bring some more damage.
