Significant snow, rain forecast for Victoria as slow-moving cold front blasts up from Antarctica

An icy cold front is forecast to linger over Victoria this week, bringing substantial snow to alpine regions in the state.

Victoria is set to get hit by a blast of chilly weather heading north from Antarctica, with other states tipped to cop plunging temperatures, heavy rain and substantial snow as well.

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Phoebe de Wilt said a significant cold front was forecast to sweep through Victoria on Monday night, lingering into Tuesday and Wednesday.

“We’re expecting quite a bit of snow and rain associated with that,” Ms de Wilt told NCA NewsWire.

She said the system was slow-moving, so would last a few days, and would also affect Tasmania and NSW.

A polar weather event is set to hit Australia's south and east. Picture: Sky News Weather.

“We’re not sure yet where it’s going to be centred,” Ms de Wilt said.

Snow was expected at altitudes above 900m in Victoria and Tasmania, and “could be pushing up into New South Wales as well”, she said.

A colder than average May has prompted Perisher ski resort in NSW to open earlier than usual.

The famous holiday destination was set to kick off the skiing season on June 12 but brought this year’s opening forward to Friday, June 4.

Wild wintery weather in the week ahead across southeast Australia. ❄️☔🌬️ A strong cold front and cut-off low will drop temps well below average, with widespread showers, damaging winds, small hail and snow to low levels. Stay safe & stay warm. https://t.co/KBMJ1FK3Ukpic.twitter.com/CgsHjvfUVT

— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) June 5, 2021

Victoria has already been shivering, with Mount Hotham Airport recording a minimum temperature of -7.5C just after 5am on Saturday.

In the greater Melbourne area, it got as low as -1.4C at the aptly-named township of Coldstream just before 7am.

Victoria is set to get hit by a blast of chilly weather. Picture: Sky News Weather.

Wednesday is looking particularly chilly for Mount Hotham, where a maximum temperature of -1C is forecast.

Meanwhile, a strong wind warning has been issued for Victoria’s West Coast, Central Coast, Central Gippsland Coast and East Gippsland Coast on Sunday.