Victoria braces for more wild winds days after freak storm
Just days after a deadly storm wreaked havoc and killed three people, Melbourne is again bracing for damaging winds up to 100km/h on Sunday.
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Just days after a deadly storm wreaked havoc and killed three people across Melbourne, wild winds are again expected to hit Victoria.
State Emergency Service volunteers are bracing for further call outs on Sunday with winds gusts of up to 100km/h expected from early morning.
The weather bureau has issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds for most of southern Victoria with a cold front forecast to move swiftly across the state from the west.
The bureau said winds would average about 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts of up to 100km/h likely in alpine areas, the Grampians and the southwest coast early on Sunday morning.
By late morning the damaging winds are expected to hit Melbourne and central Victoria before moving across southwest Gippsland in the early afternoon and easing by late Sunday night or early Monday morning.
Regions likely to be affected include Warrnambool, Ballarat, Geelong, Melbourne, Wonthaggi and Bacchus Marsh.
An SES spokesperson urged Victorians to be mindful of the potential for further tree falls.
“Loose branches that may have been dislodged on Thursday may come down with further strong winds, while wet ground with weakened trees only increases the risk,” they said.
“The safest place to be during a storm is indoors. If exercising, do so either before the storm impacts or once it has passed your local area.”
Victorians have again been urged to secure loose items such as outdoor settings, umbrellas and trampolines and move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
SES volunteers had spent Saturday afternoon clearing the last of more than 3200 calls for assistance from Thursday’s freak storm and are now looking at a fourth straight day of cleaning up.
Northerly winds will strengthen SUNDAY as a cold front approaches #Victoria. A Severe Weather Warning for damaging winds has been issued for southern and mountain districts. Details here: https://t.co/aN2MgC0yq9 pic.twitter.com/kQ95MNBf4n
— Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) August 28, 2020
The Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed people can travel to a friend or family member’s house if a power outage impacts their health or safety, or the health or safety of someone they live with.
Weather bureau senior meteorologist Dean Narromore said on Friday Victoria was heading into its windy season.
“September and October are some of our windiest months, it’s important to prepare for more of these wind events as we head into the warmer months,” he said.
Mr Narromore said another burst of wind and rain was also expected to hit the state by the middle or late next week.
Originally published as Victoria braces for more wild winds days after freak storm