Strong winds may see trees fall across Melbourne, parts of Victoria
Our rollercoaster run of wild weather has continued as blasting winds sweep across Victoria. A severe weather warning has been issued with gusts up to 120kmh expected in some parts of the state.
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Massive wind gusts have battered the state as Victoria’s rollercoaster run of wild weather continues.
Last week’s drenching combined with the windy weather may also see a number of trees fall across the state.
A severe weather warning has been issued for damaging northerly winds as a cold front sweeps from the state’s west today.
The winds are expected to ease over the state’s southwest by late morning, the Melbourne area by midafternoon and the eastern areas overnight.
State Emergency Service volunteers received 56 calls for assistance in the 24 hours to 9am.
An SES spokeswoman said fallen trees were the “overwhelming reason” for the call-outs, with 35 incidents across the state.
A massive gust of 82kmh shook Melbourne Airport just before 5am.
In the alps, the region was hit with wind gusts in excess of 100kmh this morning as the state braces for “strong and squally” winds.
Mt William in the Grampians saw the strongest gust according to the weather bureau with 117kmh recorded just after 5am.
Strong winds have also been recorded at Mt Hotham (93kmh) and Ben Nevis near Ararat (85kmh).
Peak gusts of 110-120kmh are expected to hit alpine regions early this afternoon with winds averaging 60-70kmh in other parts of the warning area.
The weather bureau said elevated areas above 300m were most likely to see damaging gusts.
The SES urged Victorians to avoid travel if possible and said people should secure loose items such as outdoor settings, umbrellas and trampolines, move vehicles under cover or away from trees and stay indoors away from windows.
IS MORE RAIN ON THE WAY?
Melbourne won’t see any significant rain or cooler conditions until Saturday.
Senior Meteorologist Dean Stewart not a lot of rain was expected today, with more expected when another front hits Friday evening.
“We’re expecting falls of less than a couple of millimetres coming into southwest Victoria in the latter part of tomorrow morning, then spreading eastwards across the rest of the state,” he said.
Melbourne’s next front will arrive overnight Friday and continue to move across the state on Saturday and bring with it gusty winds, showers and cold weather.
Coastal parts of southwest Victoria and the north eastern ranges could see falls of more than 10mm.
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