Australia's south-east to shiver through cold snap weekend

A cold snap is expected to sweep across the nation’s south-east this weekend, as a polar air mass brings strong winds, torrential rain and up to a metre of snow in alpine regions.

Gale winds, heavy rain and snowfall are expected across the chilly weekend in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and NSW, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has warned.

“A deep low pressure system just to the south of Tasmania is pushing up the cold weather, following an extended period of cool and wintry weather, particularly after a mild start to June, BOM meteorologist Sarah Fitton said.

Forecasters say biting winds will make it feel chillier, as temperatures struggle to break double figures.

Melbourne is set to dip to the coldest day since late August last year, with temperatures between 12 and seven degrees on Sunday. Sydney will top 15 degrees but also dip to a chilly low of seven, with Adelaide expected to be between 8-14 degrees.

Damaging winds are likely to bring the chill across the south east, with severe weather warnings in place for parts of NSW.

Warnings are in place in the state’s southern ranges, south coast and Illawarra region, with damaging winds expected to continue though Saturday before they begin to ease.

“Were going to see quite a cold air mass move up the southeastern states this weekend,” Ms Fitton said.

“It’s going to bring with it some windy conditions, widespread showers and thunderstorms activity, with potential for some hail.”

Snow was even expected to fall in areas that don’t commonly see it, as a result of the snow line dropping significantly low.

Around 10cm is predicted to fall in the western side of the Great Divide over in the Oberon Plateau, while some suburbs of Canberra and southern parts of the Northern Tablelands could see “a flurry” of snow.

Victorian alps to get up to one metre of snow

An icy winter blast could dump up to a metre of much-needed snow on the Victorian Alps after a sluggish start to the ski season.

Ms Fitton said it was “good news” for skiers, with Australia’s resorts enjoying one of the best early-season snowfalls in years as a series of cold fronts sweep over the alps.

This week’s precession of fronts has already brought 20-40cm of snow to some of Australia’s ski resorts during the last four days, covering their grassy slopes in fresh powder, Weatherzone reported.

“[Alpine areas] could see about 50 centimetres all the way up to one metre over the next four days, which will be very good for the ski season,” senior meteorologist Grace Legge said.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a blizzard warning for areas above 1400 metres in the high country on Thursday night, with forecasters tipping bumper snowfalls in coming days.