Melbourne is set to shiver through its coldest four-day spell in 24 YEARS as Tasmania braces for a -38C polar blast and ski resorts prepare for huge dump
- Australia's southeast will shiver through a wintry cold snap starting in Tasmania
- The vigorous cold front is sweeping over the southeast on Monday afternoon
- Gusty winds and rain are expected, as well as potential snow at lower levels
- It will reach Victoria and southern NSW in the evening and Tuesday morning
Melbourne is set to shiver through its coldest four consecutive days in 24 years as a powerful wintery blast sweeps across Australia's southeast from Antarctica.
The weather will bring freezing temperatures to Tasmania overnight as snow falls at sea level, with the mercury plummeting to 0C in Hobart.
A trough is expected to bring cloudy conditions to Melbourne which will limit daytime heating and bring top temperatures of 11-12C from Tuesday to Friday.
This will be the city's first four-day period at or below 12C since 1996, Weatherzone's Ben Domensino said.
Australia's southeast is set to shiver through a wintry cold snap with temperatures hitting 5C below the average in Melbourne (pictured on Monday)
A vigorous cold front is sweeping towards the country's southeast on Monday, bringing a chilly airmass to Tasmania, Victoria and parts of New South Wales
'Outside central Melbourne, temperatures could even get cold enough for snow to fall on some of the hills around the city,' he said.
'Snow is also likely in other low-lying parts of the state on Tuesday and Wednesday.'
The cold air mass has been described as 'exceptional' as it moves up towards Australia from Antarctica.
Melbourne went into strict Stage Four lockdown from 6pm on Sunday until at least September 13, when it will be reevaluated.
Melbourne residents will only be allowed to exercise for an hour a day and can't travel more than 5km from home for the purpose of shopping.
Only one person from each household will be able to go to the shops each day.
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Metropolitan Melbourne will be under a nightly curfew, between the hours of 8pm to 5am, from Sunday night with some exemptions for those providing care and travelling to and from work.
Ski resorts are preparing for a huge dump with Mount Buller and Mount Hotham expecting snowfall all week, however Melburnians are not allowed to visit.
Gusty winds are expected to remain for much of the week with showers and thunderstorms, meaning the temperature could feel 2-3C cooler.
Melbourne will see increasing showers on Monday afternoon with a high of 15C.
In southern New South Wales snow could fall as low as 300-400m above sea level on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Towns in the lower parts of the Snowy Mountains could be seeing snow covering up to ten centimetres.
In Victoria and southern New South Wales snow could fall as low as 300-400m above sea level on Tuesday and Wednesday (Mt Buller pictured)
A lingering trough is expected to bring cloudy conditions to Melbourne which will limit daytime heating and bring a top temperature of just 10C on Tuesday, 5C below the August average
Perisher is expecting almost a full week of snow showers beginning late on Monday, leaving the slopes ready for keen skiers later in the week.
While southern NSW will experience most of the chill and wind, a wind warning for Tuesday is in place for the Sydney Coast, Illawarra Coast and Eden Coast.
Sydney will remain mostly sunny with some high cloud and temperatures between 7C and 20C until Wednesday.
From Thursday onward heavy cloud and showers will hit the Harbour City and remain for the rest of the week.
While clearer conditions are expected in Adelaide, the city is also going to wake up to a colder-than-normal morning on Wednesday.
The cold air mass will begin to cross Tasmania on Monday afternoon and will hit the hardest, with snow falling as low as sea level overnight and on Tuesday.
'A minus 38C polar air mass at 18,000ft is forecast to cross the state late Monday into Tuesday,' Higgins Storm Chasing posted.
The cold air mass has been described as 'exceptional' as it moves up towards Australia from Antarctica
Ski resorts are preparing for a huge dump with Mount Buller and Mount Hotham expecting snowfall all week
'Global model data is currently saying snow will fall to sea level pretty much right across the state with up to half a metre across the Western and Central highlands.'
This would be the first time Tasmania saw snow at sea level since 2015, when flakes covered the sand on Clifton Beach.
The coldest air and snow will last late on Monday right through to Wednesday and could settle in the higher areas of Hobart, the Bureau of Meteorology forecasts.
Strong icy winds with gusts up to 90km/h are likely from Tuesday evening, with maximum temperatures to drop below 10C across most of the state.
A bushwalker alert has been issued for hazardous conditions in the west and Central Plateau regions. Drivers are being warned to watch for slippery black ice on roads.
Adelaide will remain cloudy on Monday with slight showers and temperatures hitting 16C.
But that will all change on Wednesday with a low of just 2C forecast, which is 6C lower than the August average.
Adelaide will see clear skies and light winds on Thursday as the cool weather remains, with a low of 4C forecast.
'A low pressure system and trough will move over South Australia, continuing their run of cool days with cloud cover and showers keeping temperatures to a minimum,' Weatherzone forecasts.
While southern NSW will experience most of the chill and wind, a wind warning for Tuesday is in place for the Sydney Coast, Illawarra Coast and Eden Coast (Damaged houses along NSW Central Coast)
Sydney will remain mostly sunny with some high cloud and temperatures between 7C and 20C until Wednesday (Kiama pictured on July 28)
'These cool conditions in Adelaide and Melbourne are expected to linger until early next week, with daytime temperatures remaining below average and days seeming rather gloomy with thick cloud cover.'
Canberra will remain mostly sunny throughout the week with chilly temperatures hitting as low as -4C on Thursday.
The capital city will see areas of fog and frost in the mornings and light winds most of the week.
While much of the country shivers through the week Queensland remains mostly sunny with a few showers on the coast.
Brisbane is partly cloudy on Monday with light winds as the temperature climbs to a top of 23C.
Western Australia is experiencing a severe low pressure system with heavy showers and storms in the southwest.
Perth is cloudy with low temperatures of 7C and highs of 15C. The city is forecast to experience heavy showers in the afternoon and evening.
There is chance for a thunderstorm with small hail.
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