Millions set to shiver through coldest Easter Sunday in 80 years: 'Wintery'

Millions of Australians will have to put up with a "wintery" Easter Sunday thanks to an unusual cold snap sweeping the south of the country.

Melbourne is set to record its coldest Easter Sunday in nearly 80 years with temperatures set to reach just 15C. The last time temperatures reached that low on Easter Sunday was in 1943, according to Weatherzone.

Wind and rain is forecast for Victoria's capital with snow down to 1400m on Sunday morning. Cold southwest winds will keep the state's highest temperature to just 19 at Mildura.

Sydney will cop strong winds too, up to 40kmh, however the city will enjoy warmer temperatures of up to 21C.

Brisbane and Perth will enjoy temperatures in the mid-20s, Adelaide will have a top of 20, Canberra should reach 16 and Hobart will shiver through Easter Sunday with a max of 11 alongside showers.

Darwin can also expect showers with a top of 30.

The cold weather will continue for Melbourne on Monday with highs of 15 again. Sydney should experience sun again with highs of 21. Brisbane will reach 28, Perth 24 and Adelaide 21. Hobart's rain will continue but will warm up to a high of 15. Canberra will reach 17 and Darwin 31.

• Incredible scene spotted above Aussie town: 'That's amazing'

• 'Extremely rare' phenomenon stuns locals in Aussie town

• Bizarre sight over Sydney stuns onlookers: 'What is it?'

Poor driving conditions at the start of the Easter Weekend coincided with a spike in road deaths, with 7 on Good Friday alone.

Authorities have urged motorists to drive to the conditions, while warning drivers to concentrate on the road and not their phones.

Cyclone could pose 'significant risk' to WA residents

A tropical cyclone is forming off Western Australia and could severely impact coastal areas of the east Pilbara or west Kimberley.

A tropical low is expected to turn into a cyclone later on Sunday bringing possible gales to the north Kimberley coast before moving south west, the Bureau of Meteorology's cyclone warning centre advised on Saturday.

"There is a significant risk that this system will become a severe tropical cyclone and impact the central/east Pilbara or west Kimberley coast from Wednesday," it said.

WA's Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said people between Kalumburu and Kuri Bay in the Kimberley should prepare their homes and families for a possible cyclone.

Wind gusts up to 90 kilometres per hour and heavy rainfall are expected on Sunday.

"Communities along the North Kimberley and West Kimberley Coast should start to prepare and monitor conditions and warnings," the DFES advice said.

With AAP

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.