The most forceful cold front to move over south east Australia in years will cause freezing conditions for everyone this weekend.

The abnormally icy conditions will begin on Saturday and they’ll keep us chilled until the middle of next week at least, according to forecasts.

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Weatherzone told News Corp that South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales, the ACT, Queensland and the Northern Territory will endure their coldest temperatures in at least two years and over five in some cities.

Bureau of Meteorology NSW regional director Barry Hanstrum says the first cold front will begin to cross the region on Friday.

“We’re expecting temperatures will plummet, winds will be fresh to strong, and snow will fall down to low elevations,” Mr Hanstrum said.

“Temperatures are expected to drop to single digits or below zero across the southeast during the nights and mornings.

“The fronts will bring snow to the Australian alpine region on Saturday, which will extend right along the Great Dividing Range on Sunday.”

Snow is expected down to 700 metres by Sunday morning in Victoria, meaning the Dandenong Ranges and the central highlands are likely to get falls along with alpine areas.

In NSW, snow will creep up the Great Dividing Range almost to the Queensland border.

Rain is likely in virtually all parts of all three states over the next three days, bringing some relief for drought-affected farmers in northern and western Victoria and inland NSW.

Canberra will cop an average temperature of 8C across four days, the coldest since 2009.

“These showers will at times and in some places contain small hail,” Weatherzone said. “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.”

Residents in these areas are being advised the situation is being monitored closely and that updates will be issued as required in each state.

On the other side of Australia, even Perth had its coldest night of the year as the temperature went sub zero in some parts of the city.