Severe weather warning as cold front set to hit east coast while dangerous winds forecast for WA and alpine regions

Severe weather warnings have been issued across Australia as a powerful cold front gets ready to bring damaging winds and wild conditions to large parts of the country.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued alerts for NSW, Victoria and South Australia, while Queensland and the Northern Territory are expected to be spared from the wintry blast.

Western Australia is also going to be hit hard, with gusts of up to 102km/h recorded at Cape Leeuwin, about three hours south of Perth, on Monday morning.

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Heavy rain has soaked areas around Albany and Denmark, with some locations receiving up to 20mm.

Residents in the Snowy Mountains on NSW, parts of the ACT, and those living in the South West Slopes are being urged to brace for dangerous conditions, with alpine regions expecting wind gusts up to 125km/h by Monday night.

Victoria is also in the firing line, with East Gippsland, South West, North Central, North East, West and South Gippsland, and Wimmera among the regions likely to be impacted by powerful winds.

Over in South Australia, strong gusts are forecast to impact the Mount Lofty Ranges, Yorke Peninsula, Mid North, and parts of the Flinders and Murraylands.

The Bureau is warning motorists to drive with caution, as winds may stir up dust and reduce visibility in some areas.

Bureau meteorologist Angus Hines warned multiple states were still going to see strong winds.

“The reason it’s so windy down here is because of the cold front,” he said.

The eastern states are expected to see conditions ease by Tuesday morning, while parts of western Victoria and SA could see relief from late Monday night.

Meanwhile, Tasmania is also being battered, with winds reaching 115km/h at Mount Wellington.

Gusty conditions are forecast to continue into Tuesday morning, with a second cold front expected to sweep through the island by tomorrow afternoon.

Patchy rain, hail, thunderstorms, and strong winds are expected to persist across all affected areas as the system moves through.