Storm warnings for Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane, with destructive winds over 125km/h forecast in Australia

Storm warnings are in place for multiple capital cities across Australia's east and south-east as a severe weather front sweeps across the country, covering major cities including Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has predicted hail, damaging winds and possible flash flooding across Victoria, New South Wales and parts of Queensland into Sunday.

Heavy rain, winds and thunderstorms are forecast to hit Melbourne and eastern Victoria throughout Saturday afternoon, as a cold front meets warm, humid air.

The storm front is then expected to travel further east, impacting Canberra and inland New South Wales before reaching the east coast on Sunday, stretching as far as southern Queensland.

The BoM warned of possible flash flooding in some areas and potentially destructive winds of over 125km/h that could bring down large trees or damage property.

Melbourne and parts of Victoria recorded moderate rainfall and some lightning on Saturday morning, with a more intense band of thunderstorms forecast into the afternoon.

BoM meteorologist Angus Hines said on Saturday that the follow-up band of storms could pack a punch.

The storms are expected to impact Melbourne, parts of Gippsland, the north-eastern ranges and north-central Victoria, with damaging winds the greatest risk.

The risk area will extend further north through inland New South Wales into the evening, up to Queensland's southern interior and along the New South Wales coast south of Sydney around Wollongong and the Illawarra, with possible damaging winds, heavy rainfall and large hailstones.

Hines said very active storms were expected from mid to late afternoon in many of these areas, and potentially not until the evening hours by the time storms reach the east coast.

The focus of concern will shift further north on Sunday, with heavy rain and storms around Brisbane during the afternoon and early evening.

Severe thunderstorms are most likely for parts of the New South Wales mid-north coast, the northern rivers, parts of the tablelands and the Hunter region, with possible hail, heavy rainfall, flash flooding and destructive winds of more than 125km/h.

Areas that had recorded heightened rainfall in the past fortnight are also at risk of flash flooding, Hines said, advising people in those areas to keep a watch on the radar on Sunday.

A broader area of potential concern for Sunday stretches from Newcastle, north of Sydney, up to Gympie on the Sunshine Coast.

A severe wind warning is also in place across the mountains of northern Victoria and southern New South Wales, with wind gusts of more than 100km/h recorded on Saturday morning.