Damaging gales batter Victoria ahead of miserable weekend

DESTRUCTIVE winds are buffeting Victoria, with a man dying after a tree fell across the road in front of his car in Lilydale. Forecasters have warned dust could be swept into the city by the damaging gales.

A MAN has died after his car hit a tree in Lilydale as destructive winds buffet Victoria, blowing roofs off houses.

The man died when his car smashed into a tree on the Warburton Highway about 11am.

In Noble Park North a garage roof has blown off and smashed into a neighbour’s house.

A bit going on at the Mornington Pier! 🌬🌊

The strong winds are expected to smash Melbourne all day. pic.twitter.com/zD84huE80H

— 3AW Melbourne (@3AW693) August 10, 2018

A tree smashed through a roof in Tecoma at about 10:45am in one of a number of near misses today.

Narre Warren SES crews are currently at an incident in Doveton where a tree has fallen on a house.

The SES has responded to 51 call-outs in the past hour, with 36 of them coming as a result of fallen trees as winds pick up across Victoria.

Victorians are urged to beware as the severe weather smashes the state.

The extreme gusts could whip up dust from dry areas in the north, which may settle across Melbourne, forecasters have warned.

The State Emergency Service advises Victorians to keep clear of fallen power lines, to move cars under cover or away from trees and to secure loose items around the house, yard or balcony.

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This morning’s sunrise over Melbourne. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Gusts of 91kmh have been recorded at Moorabbin Airport, with 89kmh gusts at Fawkner Beacon and 87kmh at Melbourne Airport.

Winds of up to 100kmh are forecast to hit the city.

Victoria’s highest gust so far of 111kmh has been recorded at Mount William in the Grampians.

“It’s enough to do some damage to trees,” Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Rod Dickson said.

He said dust in the north of the state may also be raised by gusts, and could travel south through the day and settle across the city.

A mild and sunny day will reach a top of 19C in Melbourne and end with rain developing later tonight.

And temperatures in the Mallee will soar into the low to mid-20s today, with the mercury set to hit a top of 24C in Mildura.

Between five to 15mm of rain is expected overnight.

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