Weather bureau issues severe weather warning in Victoria for damaging winds
Communities in Melbourne’s north and east, as well as parts of the Yarra Valley, have been told to secure loose items as damaging winds and a cold front are expected.
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Damaging winds of up to 100km/h have already hit the state’s mountain regions this morning as Victoria braces for a passing cold front.
The weather bureau has issued a severe weather warning for strong northerly winds today in parts of the central, north central, north east and Gippsland forecast districts.
The bureau has warned that damaging winds average between 70-80km/h with peak gusts of 90-100km/h are expected to cross the state this morning and early afternoon.
Wind gusts of 98km/h have already been recorded at Mt William in the Grampians National Park in the early hours of this morning.
Gusts of 85km/h were recorded at St Kilda at 6.37am and Melbourne Airport was hit by 82km/h winds just before 5am.
Northerly winds are expected to strengthen overnight ahead of a cold front on Monday. A Severe Weather Warning for damaging winds about elevated terrain has been issued. Details here: https://t.co/47fPtSteq6 #VicWeather pic.twitter.com/aKt1qvMFhF
— Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) April 18, 2020
The bureau said other locations likely to be affected were Bacchus Marsh, Mt Baw Baw, Falls Creek, Mt Hotham and Mt Buller, with the damaging winds gusts most likely in elevated terrain above 1000m.
Victorian duty forecaster Peter Blake said the cold front had started to pass through Horsham just before 8am.
“There’s not a great deal of rainfall to follow and it should clear up pretty quickly,” he said.
“Around the Melbourne area Mt Macedon, Kilmore and the Yarra Ranges should see the stronger wind gusts.”
He said it certainly wouldn’t be a calm day in flatter areas either with winds expected to reach 50km/h.
A State Emergency Service spokeswoman said volunteers across the state had received 60 calls for assistance in the 24 hours since 9.45am on Sunday.
Emerald was the busiest unit with six call-outs, while Sorrento had five and Broadmeadows and Healesville units had four each.
“The most common call-outs in that time period were trees down (44) and building damage (7), as well as road rescue (4),” she said.
The SES has advised people in the affected area, including those in suburbs north of Melbourne CBD, the eastern suburbs and the Yarra Valley, to secure loose items such as outdoor tables, umbrellas and trampolines.
The SES also warned that trees already damaged by heat or fire may be unstable and more likely to fall when windy or wet.
Vehicles should also be moved under cover or away from trees and people have been advised to stay indoors and away from windows.
The windy conditions are expected to ease from this afternoon. Melbourne is expected to reach a top of 19C.
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