Damaging winds with gusts up to 110km/h are expected across southeastern Australia on Monday as a strong cold front abruptly halts a spring warm spell.
A severe weather warning has been issued for all of Victoria, much of eastern South Australia and a wide area of southern NSW as the front approaches.
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Scott Williams said the front and deep low pressure system south of Tasmania will bring with them damaging winds that may be worst as the front approaches.
Winds gusting between 90km/h and 110km/h are expected in South Australia from Monday morning.
Sustained winds up to 70km/h with gusts to 100km/h should reach western Victoria by late Monday afternoon and should clear the state's east by early Tuesday.
In NSW, regions from Broken Hill to Wagga can expect gusts up to 90km/h, with 100km/h gusts in the Snowy Mountains, as the front begins to cross the south of the state.
"There is a risk of thunderstorms with the change that could essentially bring even stronger winds from higher up down to the surface," Mr Williams said.
"The southwest of Victoria and southeastern South Australia are at the greatest risk of thunderstorms but there isn't an area where there is a zero chance of thunderstorms."
Mr Williams said this was the fourth strong cold front to hit the southeast this spring.
He said such events are not unusual at this time of year as the gap widens between building heat in central Australia and still icy cold sea temperatures south of Tasmania.
SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS
VICTORIA: All regions
NSW: Riverina, Upper Western, Lower Western and Snowy Mountains
SA: Adelaide Metropolitan, Mount Lofty Ranges, Lower Eyre Peninsula, Eastern Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, Flinders Ranges, Mid North, Riverland, Murraylands, Upper South East, Lower South East regions along with parts of the North West and North East Pastoral regions.
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