The first day of winter begins with an icy cold front for much of the east coast – as winds of nearly 100 kilometres per hour batter New South Wales.
The Bureau of Meteorology said the polar cold front has now moved offshore – but the country's southeast will experience a "very cold and windy air mass” for the next 24 to 48 hours.
Severe weather warnings are in place for most of New South Wales and Victoria.
Maximum temperatures have been recorded at 3 to 6 degrees below the May average.
