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Blizzards, avalanches, snow on the hills? Welcome to springtime in Victoria

Emily Woods
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The snowiest week of the year has arrived, four days into spring.

Snow will fall to the lowest levels of the season, about the 300-metre mark, dumping 60 to 90 centimetres across Victoria's alps, with a light dusting expected to fall on the outskirts of Melbourne.

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Despite the blue skies over central Melbourne, parts of the city's south-east have received a light dusting.

Stormy weather, including hail and strong gusty winds, is expected to descend on Melbourne by Monday afternoon.

Ferny Creek was the first place near Melbourne to see snow, about 11am on Monday, according to the bureau.

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Snow and hail have fallen at Clarkes Hill, near Ballarat. 

Children at St Mary's Primary School in Clarkes Hill were not deterred by the wintry conditions during their lunch break - they played on the tennis courts as the snow fell.

Light snow has also been reported in Daylesford, Creswick, Gordon, Warrenheip and other small towns north-east of Ballarat.

A blizzard, which began on Sunday night, has already transformed the ski resorts into wintry wonderlands and triggered an avalanche warning from the Bureau of Meteorology.

About 10 centimetres of snow fell at Mount Buller and Falls Creek on Sunday night, and there was 12 centimetres at Mount Hotham.

Falls Creek has announced it will extend its ski season until October 8.

Snow is expected to fall down to 300 metres between Monday and Wednesday, which could see a sprinkling of snow across the Dandenong Ranges, Macedon Ranges, Kyneton and Kinglake.

Meanwhile in Port Fairy, hail has bucketed down on streets, transforming the small town into a white winter wonderland.

This week's expected snow fall would be the "lowest level for the season", Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Richard Carlyon said.

"We're expecting frequent snow showers over the next three days, particularly the next two.

"So quite a cold start to Spring with this heavy snowfall."

The blizzard could become more fierce on Monday afternoon.

A severe weather warning has been issued across most of Victoria, with damaging winds, showers and thunderstorms expected.

The highest wind gusts were recorded at Wilsons Promontory, with gusts of 104km/h at 10am on Monday.

The warning is likely to remain in place on Tuesday.

"With the strong winds, heavy snow, wind gusts up to 100km/h in association with showers and thunderstorm activity, there are blizzard-like conditions through today and tomorrow," Mr Carlyon said.

"Later in the week we're expecting fresh to strong winds, but the strongest winds for the week are likely today and tomorrow.

"There will be a cold front coming through tomorrow afternoon and then the wind will ease."

The heavy snow has triggered avalanche warnings across Victoria's Alps.

"There is increased risk of avalanches in back country alpine areas due to the forecast heavy snowfalls and strong winds," the bureau's warning said.

"Cold temperatures, further snowfalls and persistent wind will prolong the risk of avalanches until mid to late week."

"Snow sports – skiing, snowboarding or hiking – in remote areas of the Alpine should be avoided at this time. The safest area for skiing and winter activities is within the patrolled resort areas."

Mr Carlyon said there could be more snowfall when another cold front hits on Thursday.

That will likely bring a further 10 to 30 centimetres of snow to the ski resorts.

Melbourne will see some of the nasty weather by late morning or early afternoon on Monday. There will be gusty winds, rain, hail, and the chance of a thunderstorm.

Temperatures this week in the city will be cold, remaining between 12 and 13 degrees, with minimum temperatures as low as 5 degrees.

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