Icy cold winds gripped the southeast over the weekend in what looked like winter's last effort to maintain its hold. Large snowfalls, biting winds and frosty temperatures characterised the weather right across Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales. Yesterday Canberra topped at a measly eight degrees, its coldest September day in 40 years. Sydney only reached 17, its coldest in a month-and-a-half. Sunday was also cold enough to see ice pellets fall over parts of the NSW Central West, including at Orange. Wind gusts along the coast often peaked above 100km/h. Kiama was blasted by its equal strongest gust in four years. The intense cold upper air and low pressure cell that helped cause such extreme wintry weather have moved away into the Tasman Sea, allowing skies to clear and winds to ease. In contrast to the weekend, the next few days will become gradually warmer in the southeast ahead of another change. Canberra is set to top at 23 this Thursday, and Sydney at a sweaty 31.