Overview

• The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe weather warnings across South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania, with peak gusts near 130 km/h in SA and 90–115 km/h widely forecast elsewhere.
• A polar air mass direct from Antarctica is driving snow to unusually low levels, with flakes possible near Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Sydney and possibly Adelaide.
• Alpine regions are under blizzard warnings, with another roughly 40 centimetres of snowfall likely overnight and storm totals approaching 1 metre on higher slopes.
• South Australia’s SES recorded 239 storm-related callouts by midday and authorities reported local power outages as crews responded to fallen trees and damage.
• Gale warnings cover extensive coastal waters and officials urge securing loose items, avoiding treed areas and delaying travel as the system tracks east through tonight.