
Wild and wintry weather is sweeping across Australia overnight, bringing chilly temperatures, lightning storms, frosty winds and even snow.

As temperatures plummet to its lowest in 15 years, Sydney awoke to a cityscape engulfed in thick fog on Saturday morning, which saw the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge disappeared into the thick blanket of fog.

The strong cold front from the Antarctic has continued to drift through the southern and eastern coast of Australia with temperatures dropping three to seven degrees below average for five days running - the coldest spell some states have experienced in five years.

Temperatures in Brisbane are set to dip up to five degrees below the July average and snow flakes are expected to cover Eukey near the NSW border.

By Sunday morning, temperatures in Melbourne are expected to drop five degrees, with forecasters projecting the city will be the second coldest capital in the country after Canberra. Possible snow in some of Melbourne's outer suburbs is expected with forecast to fall down to 500 metres in alpine areas.

People have been warned to batten down the hatches ahead of the worst of the storms overnight as the effects of the icy blast will be felt from Sunday and temperatures are expected to remain chilly until Friday.

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Wild and wintry weather is sweeping through Australia as incredible thunderstorms hit Sydney following a morning of thick fog

Cars are seen covered in snow during a cold snap on Saturday in Mount Buller in the Shire of Mansfield in the Alpine region of Victoria

Iconic views such as the Sydney Opera house and the harbour bridge were completely engulfed in thick fog on Saturday morning

Football players pictured walking off the pitch as incredible thunderstorms swept through the city, bringing freezing temperatures

Some parts of Australia has been hit with hail storms, freezing temperatures, icy winds as the country braces itself for a severe cold snap

The conditions are significant due to the fact that Sydney's CBD only experiences strong fog about five times a year

A Bureau of Metrology spokesperson said the cloudy conditions are a result of north-easterly winds and the plummet in temperature

A stunning image shows the thick fog beginning to clear from Sydney's iconic harbour on Saturday monring

Emergency services are on high alert as the Antarctic blast is beginning to hit the southern and eastern coast of Australia and people have been warned to batten down the hatches ahead of the worst of the storms overnight and into Sunday

Damaging 'blizzard intensity' winds of 90km/h in NSW are causing havoc across NSW, and snow is also falling in South Australia and Victoria as conditions worsen.

NSW Police has appealed for all drivers to take extra care on the roads, as thousands of families return home after the school holidays. The warning calls for people to avoid 'risky behaviour'.

A State Emergency Service spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia people should avoid travel all together if possible, as roads become potentially deadly in 'icy conditions'.

It also advised people to move cars undercover, put away or secure loose items at home and be aware of falling trees and power lines.

The freezing front began to roll across the country on Friday afternoon, delivering conditions not seen in 15 years, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Temperatures are expected to fall to zero or below across large parts of Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania, with bitterly cold winds and hail also forecast. Snow is predicted to reach as far north as Queensland, after already falling across Victoria, South Australia and NSW.

Sydney's iconic attraction - Luna Park pictured on Saturday morning - covered with a thick blanket of fog ahead of the wild weather

Thick blanket of fog swept through the city of Sydney on Saturday morning

People across the country woke up to freezing conditions on Saturday morning

An Antarctic blast forecast to hit this weekend is already dumping fresh snow on ski resorts

Parts of the country will experience freezing conditions from Saturday as temperatures drop three to seven degrees below average for five days running - the coldest spell some states have experienced in five years

Overnight snow left ski-fields in Victoria and NSW blanketed in snow on Saturday morning

The snow spread is forecast to reach further north than it has since 2000.

Sydney and Melbourne can expect average low temperatures of 8 degrees for the weekend, while Canberra will be hit with a freezing 4 - but it could feel as cold as -1 due to the wind chill.

Brisbane will likely end the weekend soaked, with heavy rain predicted across most of the state, in addition to potential snow in areas of higher-elevation.

Snow and hail was falling in parts of South Australia on Saturday morning

Temperatures are expected to dip below zero in many parts of the country, including at the Perisher ski fields in NSW

Emergency services warned drivers to take extra care and be mindful of the dangers of snow-covered roads

Storm clouds rolling in over Brewarrina, an outback town in the north-west of NSW

How low could it go? The coldest days EVER in Australia's capital cities Adelaide: -0.4 degrees Brisbane: 2.6 degrees on 28/7/1911 Canberra: −10 degrees on 11/7/1971 Darwin: 10.4 degrees on 29/7/1942 Hobart: −2.8 degrees on 25/6/1972 Melbourne: -1.1 degrees on 29/05/1916 Perth: 1.3 degrees on 11/5/1914 Sydney: −8 degrees (Historic lows according to Meteorology.com.au) Advertisement

Adelaide is likely to spend most of the weekend in single figures, with a high of 12 predicted. However, elsewhere in South Australia it won't top 8 degrees until the cold snap passes.

Tasmania looks set to cop the worst of the storms, with temperatures unlikely to rise above 15 degrees across the state, while some of the coldest Mount Wellington residents can look forward to minimums of -2.

Western Australia and the Northern Territory will likely escape most of the storms, however slightly cooler temperatures than usual are forecast.

Fresh powder is expected at many of the snow fields across Australia, which spells a good weekend for skiers and snowboarders

'This weather system could benefit snow enthusiasts with more snowfall expected in the Alps well into next week'- Bureau of Meteorology

Wintry conditions are expected across the southern half of Australia this weekend

HOW COLD WILL YOU BE THIS WEEKEND? Adelaide - Saturday Min: 7 Max: 12, Sunday Min: 7 Max: 13 Canberra - Saturday Min: 2 Max: 13, Sunday Min: -1 Max: 7 Hobart - Saturday Min: 5 Max: 13, Sunday Min: 5 Max: 13 Melbourne - Saturday Min: 8 Max: 12, Sunday Min: 5 Max: 11 Sydney - Saturday Min: 9 Max: 19, Sunday Min: 9 Max: 15 Advertisement

'We're expecting temperatures will plummet, winds will be fresh to strong, and snow will fall down to low elevations,' Bureau of Meteorology NSW Regional Director Barry Hanstrum said.

'This weather system could benefit snow enthusiasts with more snowfall expected in the Alps well into next week,' Mr Hanstrum said.

Snow is forecast to fall as low as 600 metres, according to Weatherzone.

'These showers will at times and in some places contain small hail and combining with the bitterly cold and strong winds will add to an already exceptional chill, making the actual temperature feel as much as five degrees colder,' Weatherzone said.

Forecasts predict snow could still be falling on the east coast on Monday, with the cold front expected to linger for up to a week.

The extreme condition are caused by a massive cold front combining with cold winds.

Fire authorities are also warning people to be careful when using heaters during the extended cold snap, and are bracing for a spike in the number of call-outs received this weekend.

NSW Fire and Rescue is urging residents to check their smoke alarms and avoid bringing in outdoor heating equipment inside the home.

'We are seeing people use home-made heaters, such as terracotta pots bolted together and placed on top of butane gas cookers, indoors,' Chief Superintendent Chris Lewis said, according to SBS.

'These types of make-shift heating devices not only put you at great risk of carbon monoxide poisoning but also starting a fire in your home.'

A Bureau of Meteorology 'snow map' forecasts the Antarctic blast will see wintry conditions spread as far north as Queensland for the first time in 15 years

A dry and very cold June saw the mountain department produce record amounts of snow to open trails for all levels at Thredbo

The bizarre weather was on full display in this photo of a cloud bank rolling over Queensland

The weather ski resorts in Victoria and NSW will be given a much-needed boost of 20-50cm of fresh powder after a slow start to the season

Snow was well and truly falling at Mt Hotham in Victoria on Friday morning

The big chill made for some spectacular shots at Thredbo in NSW

Snowy roads will create headaches for drivers across the weekend