A strong and windy cold front is sweeping across Australia's southeast, bringing rain and freezing temperatures for much of the weekend.
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Damaging wind warnings are in place for Victoria, South Australia, NSW and the ACT with temperatures plunging up to six degrees below average in some areas.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe weather warnings for parts of all four states with winds reaching over 90km/h in some places.
Damaging winds across the south and east averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts of around 100 km/h are likely, the bureau said.
The coastal town of Nowra on the NSW south coast recorded gusts of 100 km/h just before 10am.
Damaging winds are expected to affect the entire Sydney metropolitan district on Saturday afternoon and evening, potentially including elevated parts of the mid north coast.
Blizzard conditions are also expected over alpine areas.
Victoria's Mt Buller received more than 25cm of snow across the mountain with as much as 50cm expected by the end of the day.
"The depths are creeping around the 80cm mark and the flakes are falling beautifully," resort spokesperson Rhylla Morgan said.
Thredbo in the NSW Snowy Mountains region similarly received 27cm of snow overnight.
The situation in South Australia has been particularly severe with the damaging weather causing power outages for tens of thousands across the state.
Damaging winds have swept across the Adelaide metropolitan area, the upper and lower southeast of the state, the Flinders Ranges, mid north, Murraylands, Mount Lofty Ranges, and northeast pastoral districts.
About 45,000 customers have experienced power outages as a result of severe weather since 5am on Friday, SA Power Networks acting head of corporate affairs Cecilia Schutz said on Saturday afternoon.
Crews are continuing to repair downed powerlines and restore power.
The state's emergency services have received more than 450 requests for assistance, including a partial building collapse at Mount Gambier, since 8am on Friday.
Most requests for help have related to downed trees and trees on cars.
The cool, windy weather is expected to gradually ease later on Saturday night but will linger into Sunday.
Australian Associated Press
