Large hailstones and dangerous winds will batter several eastern states, as storms move over the region.

Showers, thunderstorms and strong winds are forecast from south Queensland all the way down to Tasmania from this afternoon and are being driven by a cold front moving across the Great Australian Bight.

The weather may also affect parts of central Australia and the northern parts of South Australia. 

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe weather warnings for damaging gusts in southern NSW, parts of Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria and southern Tasmania.

Gusts will average between 55km/h and reach a peak of 100km/h.

"They're really, really strong winds that can bring down trees and cause damage," Senior Meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said.

Gusts of up to 80

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