After a hot night, Melbourne’s west hit by dust, strong winds

DAMAGING winds and large hailstones narrowly missed Melbourne this evening. But parts of Victoria were lashed with strong winds and hail, as a cool change sweeps across the state.

Dust over Western Melbourne this morning. Picture: Twitter/@Dr_luke_gahan

MELBURNIANS can breathe a sigh of relief tonight after damaging winds and hail missed the CBD and inner-city suburbs.

But parts of the state were lashed by strong winds and hailstones almost the size of golfballs, as a cool change swept across the state.

Geelong experienced heavy rainfall, as well as the outer eastern and southeastern suburbs, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

“We also did have some reports of reasonably large hail through the Gippsland area almost golf ball size,” senior forecaster Michal Efron said.

“Storms fired up to the north and south but Melbourne escaped the worst of it.”

Mr Efron said winds of up to 93kmh were recorded at Avalon and Essendon airports and Laverton about 8.30am this morning.

A severe thunderstorm warning was earlier issued for the Central, North Central, North East, West and South Gippsland, parts of East Gippsland and Northern Country regions, but has since been removed.

The warning came as damaging winds stirred up a blanket of dust across Melbourne’s western suburbs this morning.

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Thunderstorms and large hail stones are predicted for parts of Victoria, including Melbourne. Picture: File.

Forecaster Peter Newham said they were aware of dust around the Avalon and Werribee areas, but said there was potential for dust to be whipped up all day, as winds up to 100km/hr were predicted for Melbourne.

“That’s stirred up some dust over the western suburbs this morning,” he said.

“We know it’s very windy and we have a severe weather warning out.”

Kristine Henderson tweeted a photo of the haze moving over Wyndham Vale, although the BOM said the ‘raised dust’ wasn’t enough to brand it a dust storm.

Further thunderstorm warnings could be issued later today. The damaging wind warning is current for all of the state’s south.

A moderate thunderstorm asthma forecast is current for all of the west of the state, including the Melbourne region.

Dust coming across Wyndham Vale #duststorm @BreakfastNews @9NewsMelb @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/WOqzAehlV0

— Kristine Henderson (@Kristineh27) November 1, 2018

Did you catch the raised dust in areas of #Melbourne, thanks to strong winds? Not quite enough to call it a "dust storm", though. Strong winds continuing across the city today, ahead of this afternoon's front. Check the wind warning here: https://t.co/ibZsaGe9a6 #VicWeather pic.twitter.com/o7gh4nzrlD

— Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) November 1, 2018

#BREAKING: A massive dust storm is headed towards Melbourne. #9News pic.twitter.com/7LNMe1EZR6

— Nine News Australia (@9NewsAUS) November 1, 2018

Dust south west of Werribee this morning. Picture: Twitter/@AlennieAnnie

Today’s cooler temperatures come as a relief from last night’s sweltering conditions.

Last night the thermometer refused to dip much below 23C, making it an uncomfortable night for many.

In Essendon, the lowest temperature overnight was a warm 24C, Laverton was 25.9C at Moorabbin it was 26.3C around midnight.

Geelong was a far balmier 20.7C overnight and Coldstream dropped to a more pleasant 18.8C early this morning.

Up to 5mm of rain was expected in the city with potentially more expected for the suburbs as isolated thunderstorms made their way through Victoria.

Saturday is expected to be a dry and sunny forecast with a top of 19C.

Sunday will possibly see a little rain and cloud but will see a top of 24C.