Australians are bracing for the autumn sun to come to a sudden halt this weekend as a cold blast of air sweeps across the country and the mercury plunges as low as -5C.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned a cold front is moving eastwards across the south-east coast - bringing icy, wet and snowy conditions to millions of residents.
The chilly conditions will last four days and affect New South Wales, South Australia, the ACT, Victoria and Tasmania, the bureau said.
Sub-zero temperatures are expected to hit Tasmania, with snow to hit areas with an elevation as low as 500 metres above sea level.