Parts of South east Australia set to be smashed by wind and snow warnings, with the combination to potentially create blizzards

South east Australia could look a whole lot whiter by the end of the weekend. Gruelling winds and even blizzards are set to impact Aussies in the region from Friday, as one of the strongest cold fronts of the season approaches to mark the end of winter. The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for destructive gusts across parts of SA, VIC and NSW today, revealing the extreme wind and snow combined could bring the severe snowstorms rarely seen. Gusts of up to 130km/hr are set for SA in particular, with the cold front approaching the southeast coast, Adelaide metro area, the Yorke Peninsula and Kangaroo Island from Friday, along with showers. The warning extends to the northern and north western Melbourne suburbs including Bendigo and Falls Creek, and into the central ranges of NSW. BoM meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said: “That risk of damaging winds is going to be most acute with the front early (on Friday) in South Australia. “It could also bring the risk of blizzards about elevated alpine areas of the southeast later Friday into early Saturday, as the strong winds combine with snow. “Anywhere we see that damaging wind gust risk, we could see trees and tree branches brought down. That could cause damage to property and vegetation or move around loose items in your yard. “We could also see very dangerous driving conditions developing as strong crosswinds emerge, or as those blizzard conditions bring whiteout visibility.” Blizzards could be expected then down the south east later Friday and into Saturday should the strong winds combine with the snow, hitting areas such as Bega. Snow levels at 700m are expected in the region, and at around 600m in northern Victoria at the Macedon and Dandenong Ranges. The windy conditions are thought to gradually ease between early Saturday and the end of the weekend.