Weather Melbourne: Snow blankets Victorian towns in coldest four-day spell in 24 years
Melbourne is set to freeze through its coldest four-day spell in 24 years as an Antarctic blast sweeps over Victoria this week.
Towns in Victoria's west woke to a dusting of snow this morning, including Snake Valley near Ballarat, Colac and the Otway Ranges.
READ MORE: National weather forecast for Australia
Snow hit Ballarat overnight with more expected in the coming days. 9News
Snow is expected to fall down to about 400m today and 500m tomorrow, which could see towns on Melbourne's outskirts including the Dandenong and Macedon Ranges possibly being blanketed in white.
Residents in Ferny Creek in the Dandenong Ranges woke to an icy morning today, with temperatures of -1 degrees.
An Antarctic blast is sweeping over southeast Australia, bringing a chill not felt in years. 9News
Enough snow has fallen in parts of regional Victoria to build snowmen. 9News
A maximum temperature of 11 degrees is forecast for Melbourne today, with showers and a low of four degrees.
Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino said the icy blast would ensure a four-day cold snap not seen since the year John Howard was sworn in as Australia's prime minister.
"A mass of cold air passing over Victoria this week will keep Melbourne's maximum temperatures a few degrees below average for several days in a row," he said.
"In Melbourne, temperatures are only forecast to reach 11-12 degrees each day between Tuesday and Friday.
"This would be the city's first four-day spell at or below 12 degrees since 1996."
A severe weather warning has been issued for parts of the Central, East Gippsland, West and South Gippsland districts, with damaging winds expected today, as well as strong coastal winds developing tomorrow.
Temperatures will climb slightly higher on the weekend as warmer air returns to the state, with Melbourne forecast to reach 13-14 degrees on Saturday and Sunday.
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