Snow falls across Australian Alps as damaging winds smash NSW, Victoria and South Australia

Fresh snow has begun blanketing Australia’s ski fields as a powerful weather system brings damaging winds, heavy rain and possible flooding.

Snow began falling at Mt Hotham on Sunday morning as a cold front swept across southeastern Australia.

Footage from the resort shows thick flakes falling across the slopes, covering cars in snow as skiers and snowboarders make the most of the fresh powder.

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow

The snow temporarily turned to rain later on Sunday as temperatures climbed above freezing, but Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) meteorologist Sarah Scully told 7NEWS.com.au temperatures would plunge again overnight.

“Once the cold front that’s creating this weather system moves through, the temperature will be much colder in its wake and then the rain will start to fall as snow again,” she said.

About 20cm of snow could fall across the alpine areas on Monday, followed by lighter snow showers on Tuesday and another burst on Wednesday as a second cold front approaches.

Scully said it was difficult to predict which individual resort would receive the biggest dump, but Victoria’s alpine areas were likely to record some of the heavier falls.

More snow is expected to fall across the alpine region over the coming days. Credit: Vail Resorts AustraliaDamaging winds lash three states

The wintry weather is part of the same powerful system responsible for damaging wind warnings across Australia’s southeast.

Scully said the strong cold front had tapped into a deep layer of tropical moisture, bringing damaging winds, heavy rain, possible severe thunderstorms and the risk of flash and riverine flooding.

The BOM issued warnings for NSW, Victoria and SA on Sunday with winds reaching upwards of 130km/h in some areas in the early afternoon.

Gusts had already exceeded 100km/h in several alpine areas by early Sunday afternoon, reaching 128km/h at Thredbo about 1.30pm, 109km/h at Mount Hotham about 2pm and 100km/h at Mount Buller.

North to northwesterly winds are strengthening over the three states ahead of a cold front forecast to cross SA, Victoria and NSW later on Sunday.

BOM said winds should weaken overnight ahead of a broad low-pressure system moving across western Victoria and into Bass Strait on Monday and extending gusty conditions broadly over the NSW Great Dividing Range, the Hunter Valley and elevated terrain over eastern NSW.

Damaging winds have also developed in the Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula and Flinders Ranges in SA.

Heavy rain and flooding risk

Heavy rain is another major concern as the system moves east.

Widespread falls of 20mm to 40mm are forecast across the southeast by Monday evening, while 50mm to 70mm could fall around parts of South Australia, Victoria and southeastern NSW.

Victoria’s alpine areas could receive as much as 100mm to 120mm, prompting flood watches across a number of catchments in central and eastern Victoria and into the Snowy River catchment in NSW.

A severe thunderstorm warning has also been issued for SA for heavy rainfall in parts of the Adelaide metropolitan area, Mount Lofty Ranges and Mid North districts.

A line of showers and thunderstorms may result in areas of heavy rainfall extending from Clare to northern Adelaide suburbs during the afternoon.

The worst of the current system is expected to move into the Tasman Sea later on Monday, taking much of the heavy rain and damaging winds with it.

Another cold front will then move across southern Australia, reaching Victoria, Tasmania and southern NSW on Wednesday.

Conditions are expected to become much more settled from Thursday as high pressure builds across southern Australia.