The burst of warm and sunny spring weather across south-east Australia in recent days will abruptly end later this week, forecasters warns.
One of the strongest cold outbreaks of the year will hit South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales over coming days as wintry conditions return, reports Weatherzone.
Residents should expect rain, thunderstorms, damaging winds, low level snow, icy temperatures, and possibly a dangerous squall line.
The dramatic change in conditions is being caused by a large cold air mass moving from the south-west of Australia and tracking to the east coast.
This frigid air will pass over southern Western Australia on today, before spreading over South Australia tomorrow and south-eastern regions later this week.
Warm spring-like air in the middle of the week will be replaced with a much colder air mass by Friday.
Victorians can expect a top temperature of 13 degrees, NSW 18 degrees and South Australia 13 degrees.
The collision of the approaching cold air mass with the current much warmer one will produce unsettled conditions.
Fires to floods: Wild weather hits Australia's east-coast
Thnderstorms are likely to impact parts of SA, NSW, Victoria and Queensland tomorrow and Friday. A few storms are also possible in parts of the ACT and Tasmania.
Some storms could become severe, with damaging winds and large hail the most likely threat.
The increased wind speeds and warm air ahead of the cold front will also raise the fire danger ratings in parts of central and eastern Australia.
And snow should settle in low-lying parts of Tasmania, Victoria and NSW. Falls may also reach central NSW on Friday or Saturday.
In other weather news, NSW residents are being warned to prepare for storms in coming weeks.
The State Emergency Service said unsettled weather will raise the risk of flooding and damaging weeks before a hot and dry summer.
Spring is the peak time for severe thunderstorms along Australia's east coast.
