A chilly polar blast is set to send temperatures plunging in southeastern Australia this week, bringing up to 20cm of snow to some areas.
A cold front from the Southern Ocean will blast Tasmania, Victoria and southern NSW from Wednesday, with snow forecast to fall as low as 500m above sea level.
Victoria, NSW, Tasmania and the ACT will receive a second cold front on Friday.
Tasmania is expected to receive the most snowfall, with the cold conditions forecast to extend as far north as Orange in NSW's central-west.
'Snow accumulations across the two days should amount to approximately 10-20cm across the Victorian and NSW major resorts and about 3-8cm across the Tasmanian Central Plateau and the higher peaks in south-west Victoria,' Weatherzone said.
The cold front is expected to be in full force from Thursday.
Canberrans will experience a low of -1 degree and a maximum temperature of 8 degrees, while Hobart will reach 11 degrees, Melbourne 12 degrees, and Sydneysiders will enjoy a little more warmth at 19 degrees.
South Australians could be in for their coldest day since last November after starting the month with balmy 30-degree weather.
Thursday's snowfalls are expected in elevated ground between Melbourne and Sydney
The polar blast should provide ample snow cover for snowball fights and a slide on a toboggan (pictured, the opening weekend at Thredbo in NSW)
Adelaide will reach just 16 degrees on Thursday, a far cry from April temperatures.
'It's the first winter cold front to brush across Adelaide,' the Bureau of Meteorology's Belinda House said.
'This is winter announcing itself.'
The BoM has issued a warning to sheep graziers in Victoria's south-west for Wednesday evening.
'There is a risk of losses of lambs and sheep exposed to these conditions,' the warning read.
Marine wind warnings are also in place for a number of areas across Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania on Wednesday.
The winter blast is forecast to be brief, with average autumn temperatures returning by the weekend.
However, the tail end of the polar blast is expected to bring cold temperatures, brisk winds and lingering showers, especially over higher ground.
A cold front from the Southern Ocean will hit Tasmania, Victoria and southern NSW on Wednesday night (pictured, a Weatherzone graphic)
Sydney
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming westerly 20 to 30 km/h in the morning. Min 12. Max 19.
Friday: Sunny. Winds westerly 20 to 25 km/h. Min 9. Max 22.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h turning southerly 15 to 25 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening. Min 11. Max 21.
Melbourne
Thursday: Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Possible small hail in the morning and afternoon. Winds west to southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h becoming westerly 15 to 20 km/h in the evening. Min 7. Max 14.
Friday: Cloudy. Very high chance of showers. Winds westerly 20 to 30 km/h tending southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h during the morning. Min 10. Max 17.
Saturday: Cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds south to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h. Min 11. Max 17.
Hobart
Thursday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the late afternoon and evening. Winds northwest to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming northwesterly 20 to 25 km/h in the evening. Min 6. Max 13.
Friday: Cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds west to southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h. Min 9. Max 15.
Oberon residents are used to snowfall and it may come early this season (pictured, snow in Oberon, in NSW's Central Tablelands region in 2021)
Saturday: Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds westerly 15 to 25 km/h. Min 10. Max 18.
Canberra
Thursday: Cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Possible small hail in the late morning and afternoon. Winds northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending westerly 15 to 25 km/h in the morning then becoming light in the evening. Min 3. Max 12.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Winds northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h tending westerly during the day then becoming light during the evening. Min 0. Max 15.
Saturday: Patchy frost and the chance of fog in the morning. Sunny afternoon. Light winds. Min 1. Max 17.
Adelaide
Thursday: Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming south to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h in the morning then becoming light in the late afternoon. Min 10. Max 17.
Friday: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Winds southwesterly 20 to 25 km/h tending southerly 15 to 25 km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening. Min 11. Max 18.
Saturday: Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Light winds. Min 11. Max 19.