Strong cold front sweeping across southern Australia

Cold front to see temperatures plummet in south-eastern states; blizzards forecast for alpine region

A strong cold front sweeping across South Australia and Victoria will hit parts of western New South Wales, with blizzards expected in the alpine region.

ABC,

11 July, 2015

Temperatures are expected to plummet tonight and even further on Sunday, dropping by as much as 6 degrees Celsius.

Gale force winds are predicted and parts of Queensland's Granite Belt are even tipped to see snow for the first time in two years.

Rain was forecast to lash much of Victoria, although the eastern part of the state was expected to stay mainly dry until later today.

Weather bureau senior forecaster Dean Stewart said the snow fields would benefit most from the cold snap.

"I think over the next five to seven days we could see as much as between 50 centimetres and 100 centimetres falling over those alpine areas," he said.

"The cold air is coming from well south of the Bight, moved up from the Southern Ocean up over Victoria.

"During this afternoon and evening it's going to push further northwards. In fact, I notice Brisbane is forecasting a maximum of 16 degrees on Monday so that's how far north that cold air is pushing."

PHOTO: Snow fields like Mt Buller will benefit most from the cold snap. (Supplied)

A severe weather warning was also in place for New South Wales alpine resorts, with blizzards expected.

The temperature plunge is expected to produce up to 50 centimetres of snow in the NSW ski resorts, and five to 15 centimetres in the Central Tablelands, while the Blue Mountains could also receive a small amount.

BoM spokesman Francois Geffroy said forecasting models showed most areas in NSW at elevation could receive snow on Sunday.

"The snow could possibly reach Glen Innes, Barrington Tops, Katoomba and Orange," he said.

"And it's not just a dusting. We'll probably have fairly good snow fall over the Central Tablelands, which is something to look forward to definitely on Sunday."

Senior Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) forecaster Neil Fraser said Monday would be much the same, with snow levels expected to rise.

"[It will] certainly be much colder tomorrow. The wind chill factor will be quite high. Might be forecasting a top of say 12 or 13, but it will feel like about 3 or 4," he said.

Adelaide Hills residents have reported seeing snow as cold conditions move across South Australia.

The temperature at Mount Lofty dropped to 0.3 of a degree just before 9am.

The temperature was expected to peak at just 12 degrees in Adelaide today as the cold front sweeps across the state.

The BOM's Hannah Marsh said the wintry blasts were expected to continue for at least a week.

"It's going to be wet, windy conditions, storms ... and also the possibility of small hail about the higher peaks," she said.

Mr Geffroy said the conditions were likely to continue into Monday as the low pressure system moved through up over the ocean.

"Then temperatures will start to climb back up to average again but the next system moving through into the later half of the week looks like it will just keep the temperatures back low," he said.

"So probably for much of the week we'll feel much colder temperatures than average."

Authorities urge people to take care when using heaters

PHOTO: Early morning snowfall at Perisher. (ABC News: Nicole Chettle)

As NSW braced for the cold snap, the state's fire chief urged residents not to take risks to stay warm after 11 house fires overnight.

Firefighters said eight of the fires were caused by heating equipment including chimneys, combustion heaters and overloaded power boards.

A home was evacuated at Tregear in Sydney's west after the occupants had allegedly been hanging wet clothes on top of a gas heater which caught alight.

The residents were treated for smoke inhalation.

PHOTO: Residents had to be evacuated from a unit block in Parramatta overnight after a kitchen fire. (ABC News)

A home in Sydney's south was evacuated because of fire. All five residents escaped but one room of the Logarno home was destroyed.

Two of the occupants and two police officers were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.

One hundred residents also had to be evacuated from a unit block in Parramatta overnight after a kitchen fire in one of the apartments.

Forty-three per cent of fire fatalities occur in winter and acting Fire Commissioner Jim Smith said people needed to take care they were not misusing heating or cooking devices.

"One of the biggest issues we have had of late has been carbon monoxide poisoning because people have used outdoor heaters," he said.

"We know things are tough as far as electricity prices and that but please make sure you have a correct hater.

"If it's an inside heater please check your smoke alarms because working smoke alarms in most cases will save lives."

While you were sleeping - Sydney was wrapped in a blanket @CanonAustralia@timepictures @SeeAustralia pic.twitter.com/JbhKB2JOgY

Very fast moving cold front with associated thunderstorms hits the Central Coast of Australia. Photo by Andrew Smith. pic.twitter.com/K5yU3wj7E