The Bureau of Meteorology this morning updated a SEVERE WEATHER WARNING for DAMAGING WINDS for people in Central, East Gippsland, South West, West and South Gippsland and parts of North Central and North East Forecast Districts at 5:05 am Sunday, March 18 2018.
Live Kinglake Ranges Weather can be found by visiting one of the following websites findu.com*, Weather Underground, Google Maps, and Twitter, (All data is supplied live by VK3HAG of Kinglake Ranges News. *=Failsafe continues to provide weather data to the www without internet or power, most reliable source during emergencies)
Weather Situation: A trough crossing Victoria will be followed by a strong cold front which will reach the far southwest early this morning, moving rapidly through central districts to reach eastern Victoria by late morning.
A Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist told ABC Radio Ballarat’s Steve Martin that “the change is expected to severly affect those on or south of the Great Dividing Range.
DAMAGING NORTH TO NORTHWESTERLY WINDS averaging 70 to 90 km/h are expected over Alpine areas this morning with peak gusts around 120 km/h.
DAMAGING WESTERLY WINDS, averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts of 90 to 100 km/h, are expected to develop throughout western and central parts of the warning area during Sunday morning following the passage of the cold front, reaching eastern parts from late morning. Peak gusts to 110 km/h are possible about the exposed southern coastal fringe.
Winds are expected to ease from the west during Sunday afternoon, with the risk of damaging winds clearing the State by late afternoon.
Locations which may be affected include Warrnambool, Ballarat, Geelong, Melbourne, Traralgon, Moe, Bairnsdale, Mt Buller and Mt Hotham.
Strongest wind gusts to 5am Sunday include :
Mt Hotham 119k m/h at 4.38am
Mt Buller 109 km/h at 4.28am
Strong gust last evening include:
Hamilton Ap 109 km/h at 8.00pm
Mortlake 104 km/h at 9.08pm
Warrnambool 104 km/h at 9.00pm
Mt William 99 km/h at 7.38pm
Mt Gellibrand 93 km/h at 8.35pm
The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* 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;
The next Severe Weather Warning will be issued by 11:00 am AEDT Sunday.
