At 4. 13 p.m, Saturday, April 14 the Bureau Of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for people in Central, East Gippsland, South West, North Central, North East, West and South Gippsland, Wimmera and parts of the Northern Country forecast districts.
The State Emergency Service (SES) advises people to:
* Move vehicles under cover or away from trees;
* Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony;
* Keep clear of fallen power lines.
A deep low pressure system will move to the south of Tasmania and direct a series of active cold fronts across Victoria over the next few days. The strongest of these cold fronts is currently over the east of the State, with another front expected to move across Victoria during Sunday.
DAMAGING winds of 50-70 km/h are possible within the warning area; peak gusts of 90-100 km/h are possible, reaching 110 km/h near the coast and over elevated areas.
DESTRUCTIVE winds of 70-90 km/h with peak gusts of 130 km/h are possible about the Alpine peaks (above 1200 metres) during Saturday afternoon and early evening.
Thunderstorms are possible over southern and eastern parts of the State and could also produce damaging wind gusts above 90 km/h. Storms are expected to contract to the coast tonight then clear early on Sunday.
Winds are expected to ease in most areas during Saturday evening although strong to gale force winds may persist about the coastal fringe and the Alpine region.
Locations which may be affected include Horsham, Warrnambool, Seymour, Maryborough, Ballarat, Geelong, Melbourne, Wodonga, Wangaratta, Traralgon and Bairnsdale.
The highest wind gusts today recorded to 4:00 p.m. today have been 119 km/h at Mount Buller at 3:20 p.m.; 108 km/h at Mt Gellibrand at 9:16 a.m.; 106km/h at Cape Nelson at 7:31 a.m.; 104 km/h at Mt Williams at 10:15 a.m.; 101 km/h at Aireys Inlet at 10:46 a.m. and 96 km/h at Nhill Airport at 10:30 .a.m.
The next Severe Weather Warning will be issued by 11:00 p.m.
Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts, the Bureau’s website at www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 217.
