Victoria cleans up after strong winds swept state last night

THE clean up continues across the state after wild winds blew a cruise ship onto the edge of Station Pier and downed dozens of trees last night. About 1800 homes and businesses remain without power.

THE clean up continues across the state after wild winds blew a cruise ship onto the edge of Station Pier and downed dozens of trees last night.

Montrose, Boronia, Ferntree Gully and The Basin, in Melbourne’s east, were the hardest hit metropolitan suburbs while central Victoria also copped a lashing, a SES spokeswoman said.

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The wild weather created havoc in the bay, tug boats had to help rescue the Astor cruise ship which was blown onto the edge of Station Pier.

“Cruise ship has wedged up against end of Station Pier. Tug boat sent in to try and stabilise,” witness Michelle Anderson wrote on Twitter.

A yacht left on rocks near Williamstown after the strong winds hit the state last night. Picture: Amalia Benic

The winds also affected power supplies with about 1800 Victorian homes and businesses still without power this morning.

The SES spokeswoman said less than 200 calls were received due to strong winds since 7.30pm on Monday with up to 15 cases still active.

Of the calls, more than 170 were for fallen trees, with about 20 for building damage.

Spirit of Tasmania needs a little help from a couple of tugs in Port Melbourne during high winds. Picture: Tony Gough

Tugboats help out Spirit of Tasmania during some high winds. Picture: Tony Gough

A tugboat cops a spray during some high winds. Picture: Tony Gough

#BREAKING: The Astor cruise ship appears lodged against Station Pier, Port Melbourne, after being buffered by high winds. A tug boat is assisting. #9News pic.twitter.com/XKOg1BGlWQ

— Nine News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) February 19, 2018

A severe weather warning has been cancelled for parts of the state this morning after an easterly pressure gradient eased over southern Victoria.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Tom Delamotte said the highest gusts were between 8-10pm last night with Fawkner Beacon in Port Phillip Bay clocking a 83km/h gust.

“Generally gusts were between 60-80km/h through most of the eastern and Bayside areas of the city,” he said.

A high pressure system from the south and a low pressure trough from the east was to blame for the wild winds.

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But things are looking up today with a sunny top of 30C.

There will be easterly winds reaching up to 45km/h tending south-easterly in the late afternoon.

Mr Delamotte said the winds would pick up again, particularly in the southern suburbs, but it would not come close to the ferocity of yesterday’s winds.

Wednesday will hover at 30C with clouds “keeping a lid on the temperature”, he said.

The temperature will stay steady at 30C on Thursday before dropping slightly to 29C on Friday, with a slight chance of showers.

Up to 5mm of rain and a chance of thunderstorm are expected on Saturday for a top of 27C.

Sunday will drop to 21C with up to 3mm of rain before rising to 23C on Monday.