A cold snap is expected to grip south-eastern parts of Australia right across the weekend, with the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) expecting the strongest cold outbreak so far this winter.

Key points: Damaging winds will start in southern parts of South Australia on Thursday and sweep across Victoria and NSW on Friday and Saturday

Damaging winds will start in southern parts of South Australia on Thursday and sweep across Victoria and NSW on Friday and Saturday Snow levels will get down as low as 500 metres in parts of Victoria and southern NSW

Snow levels will get down as low as 500 metres in parts of Victoria and southern NSW The Bureau could not rule out a flurry of snow even extending to south-east Queensland

Widespread damaging winds will start in southern parts of South Australia on Thursday, sweeping through Victoria and up into New South Wales on Friday and Saturday.

Temperatures are expected to plummet and snow levels will go down as low as 500 metres in parts of Victoria, southern NSW and Tasmania.

Flurries of snow are expected in the Otway Ranges, Strzelecki Ranges and potentially the central Victorian city of Ballarat.

Blizzard conditions are expected in Alpine areas from Thursday night and into Friday.

Weather 'slow to recover' into next week

In Victoria, the State Emergency Service warned strong winds could have a damaging effect on trampolines, outdoor furniture and even pets in gardens.

Some areas in Victoria could receive up to half of their average August rain in two days.

Meanwhile, residents in NSW were told to brace for widespread damaging winds extending through Thursday, Friday and lingering into Saturday.

Tasmania will also experience icy temperatures and snowfall down to 500 metres, it will escape the wild winds.

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The bureau's Michael Logan said forecasters could not rule out a flurry of snow even extending to south-east Queensland.

"It's not until mid next week where we see temperatures really start to recover, but certainly winds will have dropped out and so the worst of the weather will be over by the end of the weekend," he said.

"Because the event system is going to hang around right through until at least Sunday, it does mean winds will be fairly slow to ease on the back half of the weekend and temperatures [will be] slow to recover into early next week."

Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra to be affected

Capital cities will be affected, with damaging winds to hit populated parts of the east coast including Sydney and Wollongong.

In Melbourne, there will be a possibility of local hail and thunder, as well as gusty winds.

Maximum temperatures will only reach 11 degrees on Friday and Saturday, with the Bureau warning icy winds would make the city feel even colder.

Canberra will see bitterly cold winds pick up throughout Friday, with snow on the nearby hills expected.

Southern parts of South Australia will be impacted as well, particularly on Thursday when a strong low-pressure system hits the south of the state and moves through the Bass Strait.

The Bureau has also warned of large waves in Bass Strait and elevated sea levels.