Severe Weather South

Severe weather across southern Australia is most often driven by cold fronts, east coast lows and deep troughs, bringing damaging winds, heavy rain, large hail and dangerous surf – particularly from autumn through early spring.

What types of severe weather affect the south?

Southern Australia experiences a distinct mix of hazards that vary by region and season.

• Damaging winds – associated with strong cold fronts and cut-off lows, especially in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. Gusts can exceed 100 km/h.
• East coast lows – intense cyclonic storms that develop near the southern NSW and Victorian coasts, producing torrential rain, flash flooding and coastal erosion.
• Thunderstorms and large hail – most common in spring and summer, with supercells occasionally dropping hail larger than 5 cm across the southern plains.
• Heavy snowfalls – alpine areas receive blizzard conditions, often triggering road closures and back-country hazards from June to October.
• Dangerous surf and king tides – long-period swell from Southern Ocean storms can cause coastal inundation along the Victorian and Tasmanian coasts.

When and where is severe weather most likely?

The frequency and intensity of severe weather follow clear seasonal and geographic patterns across the south.

• Autumn (March–May) – transition season brings volatile cold fronts and east coast lows; highest risk of damaging winds in Victoria and Tasmania.
• Winter (June–August) – consistent westerly flow drives widespread gales, heavy rain and mountain snow; South Australia and western Victoria often receive the brunt.
• Spring (September–November) – peak thunderstorm season for southern NSW, Victoria and SA, with large hail and flash flooding more frequent.
• Hotspots – the Otway Ranges, Grampians, Mount Lofty Ranges and Tasmanian west coast experience the highest incidence of severe weather warnings per year.