By Ashleigh McMillan and Nicole Precel
Strong winds have ripped through the central and southern parts of Victoria, with more than 190 calls to emergency services for building damage and trees down in just 12 hours.
A severe weather warning for damaging winds remains in place for the Central district including Melbourne, East Gippsland, West and South Gippsland and parts of South West, North Central and North East districts on Saturday afternoon.
All quiet on the Rosebud foreshore as Melbourne and beyond brace for rough weather.Credit: Simon Schluter
But the Bureau of Meteorology says warmer, milder conditions will push back into the state by Monday with some autumn warmth in the mid-20s by the middle of next week.
Senior forecaster Dean Stewart said while it had been a particularly windy day, the gusts are going to "settle down pretty quickly" overnight.
"The front went through early today and it is the winds behind that front which are giving us the strongest wind squalls," he said.
"But by tomorrow, on Port Phillip Bay we won't even have strong winds, despite the fact we currently have gale-force winds. It will be noticeably calmer tomorrow."
Mr Stewart said Melburnians can expect "light winds and more sunshine" by Monday, with a top of 18 degrees. Tuesday is expected to reach a maximum of 23 degrees, with a top of 25 predicted by Wednesday.
Wilsons Promontory recorded wind speeds of 117km/h at around 9.30am on Saturday, while St Kilda Yacht Club experienced gusts of 95km/h.
The State Emergency Service received 464 calls for assistance for trees down in the past 24 hours, almost all of those in the 12 hours until 4pm Saturday, with 64 calls about building damage across the same time period.
There were 106 SES personnel actively working to respond to emergencies and 437 who had attended call-outs in the past 12 hours.
The worst-hit areas were along the Mornington Peninsula, including Leongatha, Warrigal, Hastings, Rye and Cowes, according to an SES spokesman.
The SES is recommending people stay indoors and away from windows, and be aware that trees that have been damaged by heat or fire may be unstable and more likely to fall when it is windy or wet.
Victorians are also encouraged to check loose items such as outdoor settings, umbrellas, and trampolines are safely secured, and to move vehicles under cover or out from under trees.