Devastating wind, snow and rain are reaching parts of Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales as an Arctic storm continues to batter the country.
Two low pressure areas in the Tasman Sea are trapping freezing air across the three states and parts of South Australia.
As a result, temperatures have dropped and in some parts of the country it is colder than average: 8 degrees below average.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Meteorology has issued extreme weather warnings this week for parts of Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales, with winds strong enough to bring down trees and power lines.
‘The strong winds expected to hit southeastern Australia this weekend could blow down trees after a prolonged wet spell left the landscape waterlogged,’ Weatherzone said.
‘While winds will remain strong across eastern Australia on Tuesday, they are likely to weaken to damaging strength as the low pressure system moves further east across the Tasman Sea.’
It is already snowing across alpine New South Wales and the weather bureau says that, combined with strong winds on Monday, there is a chance of blizzard conditions for people living above 1900 metres above sea level.
The weather system has already caused dangerous swells and high waves along the coasts of Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales.
Weather systems will also see the mercury drop, with some areas experiencing temperatures as much as eight degrees below average (see image)
Weatherzone predicts that Tasmania and Victoria will also experience heavy rainfall through Wednesday.
Sydney
Sydney residents can expect a cold but mostly sunny week, with maximum temperatures around 15 degrees Celsius from Monday through to the weekend.
Minimum temperatures are expected to drop below 10 degrees Celsius, warming to a chilly 6 degrees Celsius on Friday.
Showers are expected for Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday, a maximum of 1 mm of rain can fall and on Wednesday 4 mm.
Heavy and powerful waves are expected on Monday, which could be dangerous, especially for people doing coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
Melbourne
Melbourne residents can expect a cold and wet week.
Heavy rainfall of up to 20mm is expected on both Monday and Tuesday, before turning into light showers from Wednesday through the weekend.
On Tuesday and Sunday it will be difficult for maximum temperatures to rise above 14 degrees Celsius, with minimums of only 5 degrees over the weekend.
Meanwhile, snow is expected in higher areas outside the Victorian Alps as a prolonged outbreak of freezing air arrives from Antarctica.
Millions of Australians living in Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia face a cold and wet week
Brisbane
The capital of the Sunshine State can expect a cool and mostly sunny week.
Maximum temperatures will remain around 19 degrees throughout the week, with temperatures rising a few degrees from Friday and into the weekend to around 20 degrees.
Meanwhile, minimum temperatures have been set at 9 degrees Celsius for every day of the week, except Saturday, when temperatures will drop to 8 degrees Celsius.
Canberra
Temperatures in the country’s capital will drop significantly over the coming week, with cloudy and cold conditions as the air is trapped in a low-pressure area.
Showers are expected every day of the week, but the heaviest rainfall, up to 7mm, is expected on Saturday.
The minimum temperatures are 1°C on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, -1°C on Thursday and Sunday and drop to -3°C on Friday.
Adelaide
Adelaide is set for a cold and wet week as a long-lasting icy airflow from Antarctica spreads across the southeast.
A high pressure area is expected to remain over the southern parts of the country for the next five days, prolonging the cold weather.
Maximum temperatures will be around 15 degrees Celsius, while minimum temperatures will fluctuate between 7 and 8 degrees Celsius during the week.
Rain is forecast for Adelaide from Monday through to the weekend, with the heaviest rainfall expected on Friday, with up to 15mm.
Perth
Perth starts the week with sunny weather, before a cold front moves across the state, bringing heavy showers.
A maximum of 10mm of rain is expected on Wednesday, rising to 30mm on Thursday.
Rain will continue into the weekend. Friday and Saturday could see 5mm of rain, and Sunday 10mm.
In Perth, temperatures will struggle to rise above 20 degrees Celsius, with lows this week ranging between 7 and 11 degrees.
Hobart
Tasmanians are set for another cold and wet week as a low pressure area moves inland from the east coast.
Like Victoria and South Australia, Tasmania is set to experience cold, gusty winds and rain.
Temperatures in Hobart are expected to drop to 3 degrees Celsius on Friday and rise to just 13 degrees Celsius over the coming week.
Monday and Tuesday will be the wettest days, with 30mm and 15mm of rain respectively.
Darwin
Darwin residents, meanwhile, can avoid the cold thanks to sunny weather and temperatures ranging between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius well into the weekend.
The minimum temperatures will drop to 15 and 16 degrees in the morning.