Ben McBurney, Monday February 17, 2014 - 16:27 EDT 

 
 







 
Southeastern Australia is set to get a taste of autumn as a powerful cold front sweeps across the region from mid this week.

Wind, rain, hail, storms and even alpine snow are all on the cards as the front lashes Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria and southern New South Wales on Wednesday.

The system will be associated with the coldest air mass since early summer, causing the mercury to plummet five-to-ten degrees below the February average, although wind chill will make it feel even colder.

Between Wednesday and Friday, Melbourne is forecast to reach no higher than 21 degrees, something which has not occurred since the first week of summer. During this period Hobart is forecast to stay cooler than 18 degrees, and Adelaide 24 degrees.

This will be a huge contrast to the start of February, which saw blistering heat across the region. The first eight days of February averaged 35 degrees in Melbourne, and 36 degrees in Adelaide.

The system could also bring some decent rain to those in southern Victoria who mostly missed out on the heavy rain seen further north, with falls of 10-20mm likely. Totals will be much lighter in northern VIC, southern NSW and southern parts of SA, where there will be less than 5mm.

Thankfully for those who had plans over weekend, conditions will be much more pleasant with sunnier skies and temperatures returning closer to average.

 - Weatherzone