It has set the prelude to Saturday – forecast to be Newcastle’s coldest day of the year – as a strong cold front moves over the state.

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting the temperature to be 15 degrees on Saturday, with a wind chill factor dropping the temperature to feel like 10 degrees. 

The temperature is expected to drop to eight degrees overnight, while Sunday is set to record a minimum of just six degrees. The June average maximum is 17 degrees and the average minimum is 10 degrees.

The wintry cold will also be felt in Scone on Saturday with a minimum of two degrees, Muswellbrook (three degrees), Cessnock (four degrees) and Maitland (four degrees).

There are also warnings for damaging winds with peak gusts of 90km/h for the Hunter.

Weatherzone meterologist Guy Dixon said snow would not be a risk over the weekend as most of the moisture had dried up on Friday.

He added that the weekend’s cold snap was more typical of July and August.

“It’s probably one of the stronger cold fronts of the season,” Mr Dixon said.

So strong was the cold front that there were reports of up to two inches of snow at Barrington Tops in a narrow half-hour window.

The flurry stunned snow chaser Darren Meredith who said it bucketed down shortly after 10.30am.

“I’ve seen snow before, but I’ve never seen snow fall like that – it was crazy,” he said.

“Literally within half-an-hour there was an inch-and-a-half to two inches of snow on the bonnet.

“I’ve never seen it come down as quick as it did.”

Another snow chaser, Dannie Lawson, of Raymond Terrace, said the falls in the Hunter’s high country were enjoyable because they were unexpected.

“It was cold and fun,” Ms Lawson said.

“Best thing about it, [there were] not many people.”

The snowfall was recorded in other parts of the state including the Central West, Blue Mountains and the Riverina.

The Barrington Tops dusting is the second of the season, with a thin blanket of snow also falling in May.

Meanwhile, a two to three-metre swell, driven by gale-force winds, is expected at Newcastle beaches on Saturday.

Surf guru Roger Clements predicted wave conditions to be clean with heavy close-outs. He said most beaches would be dangerous for swimming and rock fishing.