Winter blast to leave states reeling before severe storms this week

Multiple states are facing an early sample of winter this week as storms and a cold front sweep Australia's south-east.

Melbourne is facing a week of overcast skies and showers, with temperatures to fall from a top of 27 degrees on Thursday to a top of 17 degrees on Saturday and Sunday, and lows of 10 degrees or just below through the weekend.

Canberra will get as cold as just two degrees on Sunday and Monday, while lows of 9 degrees on the weekend are expected in Adelaide and 7 degrees in Hobart.

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Weatherzone said a trough would move across south-eastern Australia on Thursday, with severe thunderstorms expected in southern South Australia, Victoria and southern New South Wales.

"With strong winds aloft, these storms are likely to produce damaging wind gusts, with a chance of destructive winds in some areas," Weatherzone reported.

Gusts of more than 80km/h are expected over "elevated terrain", accelerating to 90km/h to 100km/h in alpine and mountainous regions.

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"After the cold front crosses later on Thursday, a much colder airmass will sweep across the south-east on (Friday), with a secondary trough and low driving a noticeable shift to wintry conditions into the weekend," Weatherzone said.

Snow could fall at heights of just 600m above sea level in Tasmania, while some could also been seen in Victoria, though only above 1000m.

"Cold air thunderstorms with small hail are also possible, marking a notable early-season wintry outbreak for April across southeast Australia," Weatherzone said.

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