Australians are being warned to brace for a week of storms, hail and damaging winds, but Sydney and Brisbane are expected to escape the worst of the wild weather.
Destructive wind gusts have already hit southern Western Australia and Victoria, and are expected to reach southeastern states including New South Wales and Tasmania on Monday.
Damaging wind gusts of more than 90km/h are expected in parts of the Illawarra, South Coast, Goulburn and Katoomba through Monday afternoon.
Nowra, Bowral, Braidwood, Goulburn and Selwyn could also take a beating.
“This week we will have very strong winds and also alpine snow,” explained Weatherzone meteorologist Yoska Hernanvez.
‘Winds will be strongest across southern South Australia, Victoria, south-eastern New South Wales and Tasmania on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“Winds will likely exceed 100 kilometres along the Victorian coast,” he said.
The SES has warned people in affected areas to move vehicles to cover or away from trees, secure loose objects around the home, avoid downed power lines and be aware that bushfires may have weakened trees.
Northern parts of the country will remain warm, with Brisbane likely to have its hottest day of August on Saturday, when temperatures are expected to reach 34C.
Sydney is set to enjoy sunny weather throughout the week, with temperatures reaching 28°C on Wednesday.
A week of cold snaps, damaging gusts, rain, thunderstorms, snow and hail is expected in parts of the southern states (pictured: pedestrians in the rain).
Sydney
Monday: Sunny. Winds from the west at 30 to 45 km/h becoming west-southwest at 25 to 35 km/h in the morning. Maximum temperature of 24.
Tuesday: Sunny. Light winds blowing from the north at 15 to 20 km/h early in the afternoon and then from the northwest at night. Minimum 11 Maximum 24.
Wednesday: Sunny. Northwest winds at 20 to 30 km/h increasing to 35 to 50 km/h during the morning and then turning west during the day. Min. 16 Max. 28.
Melbourne
Monday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers in southeastern suburbs, slight chance elsewhere. West winds 25 to 35 km/h, shifting to northwest 15 to 20 km/h in late afternoon. Max. 18.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Winds from the north at 40 to 60 km/h. Min. 11 Max. 20
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High probability of rain in the southeast periphery, medium probability in the rest of the country. Possible fall of small hail in the afternoon and evening. Northwest winds at 35 to 50 km/h, turning to the west at 35 to 55 km/h during the morning. Min. 13 Max. 17.
Victoria is likely to experience showers and damaging gusts, especially on Wednesday when winds could reach up to 100km off the coast (pictured: people walking in Melbourne)
Brisbane
Monday: Mostly sunny. Scattered fog in the early morning. Chance of thunderstorms in the west in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming northerly winds at 15 to 20 km/h early in the afternoon then becoming light winds at night. Max. 31.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Chance of thunderstorms in the west in the afternoon. Light winds. Min. 17 Max. 28.
Wednesday: Chance of morning fog. Sunny day. Winds from the north to northwest and light, becoming north at 15 to 25 km/h during the day and becoming north to northwest and light in the afternoon. Min. 17 Max. 31.
Canberra
Monday: Mostly sunny. Winds west at 25 to 35 km/h becoming northwest at 15 to 20 km/h at night. High of 16.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Chance of frost in the early morning. Light northwest winds at 20 to 30 km/h in the morning. Min. 3 Max. 17.
Wednesday: Cloudy. Northwest winds at 30 to 45 km/h, shifting to the west at 35 to 50 km/h during the day and decreasing to 25 to 40 km/h at night. Low 9 High 18.
Northern Australia will be relentlessly hot, with Brisbane forecast to experience its hottest day of August later this week at 34°C (file photo of people on a beach in Queensland)
Adelaide
Monday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, decreasing this afternoon. Winds west at 15 to 25 km/h, turning to the north to northwest at 15 to 20 km/h at night. Max. 18.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Chance of light rain at night. North winds at 20 to 30 km/h increasing to 25 to 35 km/h in the morning and then increasing to 45 km/h before veering to the west to northwest at 30 to 40 km/h in the morning and afternoon. Min. 10 Max. 23.
Wednesday: Cloudy. Medium chance of rain, more likely in the morning. Westerly winds at 30 to 45 km/h. Low 13 High 17.
Perth
Monday: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely during the afternoon and evening. Winds from the north at 15 to 20 km/h, turning to the northwest at 25 to 40 km/h in the morning. Max. 21.
Tuesday: Cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds west to northwest at 20 to 30 km/h, turning to southwest at 25 to 35 km/h in the morning and then light in the evening. Min. 15 Max. 21.
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Chance of light showers. Light northwest winds at 20 to 30 km/h during the day. Min. 9 Max. 21.
Darwin (pictured) will have consistently warm weather with highs reaching 35°F.
Darwin
Monday: Sunny. Light winds turning east to southeast at 15-25 km/h at noon and then northwest to northeast in the afternoon. Max. 35.
Tuesday: Sunny. Light easterly winds at 20 to 30 km/h at midday turning to the north-northwest at 15 to 25 km/h in the early afternoon. Min. 23 Max. 35.
Wednesday: Sunny. Light winds blowing from the east to the southeast at 15 to 25 km/h during the day and then from the north to the northeast during the afternoon. Min. 22 Max. 35.
Hobart
Monday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Winds west to northwest at 25 to 40 km/h. Max. 16.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High chance of rain, most likely at night. Northwest winds 35 to 50 km/h, shifting to the west 20 to 25 km/h at night. Min. 12 Max. 20.
Wednesday: Cloudy. High probability of rain. Winds from west to northwest at 25 to 40 km/h. Minimum 7 Maximum 11.