A large low pressure system in the Southern Ocean is sending up severe conditions. Picture: BOM

Residents in parts of South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania and the ACT are being warned of the potential of severe conditions today and tomorrow.

The Bureau of Meteorology has put out separate warnings for each state.

This is what you need to know.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

People in Adelaide, the Lower South East and parts of the Mount Lofty Ranges, Yorke Peninsula, Upper South East districts and on Kangaroo Island are being warned of damaging winds, averaging 50-60 km/h with gusts in excess of 90 km/h, with showers and thunderstorms.

A wind gust of 111 km/h was observed at Cape Willoughby on Kangaroo Island at 9:25 this morning.

Very heavy rain, mainly about the southern coasts and ranges, may also lead to flash flooding.

Locations which may be affected include Adelaide, Mount Gambier, Kingscote, Naracoorte, Victor Harbor, Meningie and Strathalbyn.

A flood watch is also in place for the Mt Lofty Ranges where up to 60mm is possible in some locations.

Adelaide will see the wild weather develop this morning with showers tending to rain later with the chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening. Heavy falls are possible.

Colder winds could bring hail overnight and there is the small chance of sleet on the higher mountain peaks leading into Friday morning.

The states capital is heading for a chilly top of 15C today with the next three days not expected to reach higher than 14C.

VICTORIA

The Bureau of Meteorology warns residents in the North Central, North East, South West, Central, West and South Gippsland and East Gippsland forecast districts that there is the risk of damaging winds around 60 km/h with peak gusts of 100 km/h in the evening and the east by Friday morning.

Alpine peaks above 1200 metres elevation are likely to get gusts of up to 120km/h.

Melbourne can expect the weather to worsen during the day with the very high chance of rain later this afternoon and evening as the cold air mass moves east.

There is the chance of thunder and hail across the state overnight and into tomorrow as a second cold front sweeps through.

Snow is likely to fall to the 600m mark during Friday with ski resorts expecting up to 80cm over the coming days.

There is the chance snow may fall on the higher hills surrounding Melbourne on Friday.

Melbourne is heading for a windy top of 15C today and a chilly 11C tomorrow.

NEW SOUTH WALES AND THE ACT

People in the Snowy Mountains and Australian Capital Territory Forecast Districts are being urged to prepare for the arrival of damaging winds tonight averaging 60km/h with peak gusts in excess of 90 km/h.

Elevations above 1900 metres may experience average wind speeds of 80km/h with gusts up to 120km/h.

Locations which may be affected include Mount Ginini, Perisher Valley, Charlotte Pass, Thredbo, Cabramurra and Selwyn.

Severe winds brought dowm trees in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney yesterday.

Icy conditions will follow with temperatures in southern parts and along the ranges likely to fall below freezing.

Snow is possible above 700m in the southern Tablelands, Central Tablelands, Hunter, North West Slopes and Plains and Northern Tablelands forecast districts later on Friday and into Saturday.

Sydney will miss out the worst of the weather, but temperatures will drop later tomorrow with icy wind making it feel a lot colder than it actually is.

The state’s capital is heading for a top of 18C tomorrow before dropping to 16C on Saturday on Sunday.

Canberra is heading for a top of 11C today and only 9C tomorrow with possible thunder.

TASMANIA

Residents in all Northern River Basins have been put on flood watch with forecast rainfall likely in the range of 40 to 50mm, with possible higher totals of up to 80mm about elevated areas.

There’s also a bush walkers weather alert for the Western and Central Plateau forecast districts warning snow as low as 500 metres is expected during Thursday and 400 metres during Friday.

Hobart will cop its first taste of winter with rain and hail forecast today with a chilly top of 12C and only 9C tomorrow.

Snow may fall in the higher suburbs of the capital tomorrow as snow levels on Mt Wellington lowers to around 400m.

QUEENSLAND

People in the Sunshine State won’t see the cold weather arrive until late Friday and into Saturday. The conditions here are not expected to be as severe, although residents in southern parts will notice a big drop in temperature.

There is the slight chance of sleet over the Granite Belt early on Saturday.

It should remain fine in Brisbane but temperatures are forecast to be 4C below average.