Kinglake Ranges News spoke with senior Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) forecaster Tom Delamotte tonight who confirmed that snow is likely overnight in the Kinglake Ranges but unlikely to settle due to high wind speeds until the wind eases early Saturday morning.
“We have a cold front moving through tonight.
“Following that cold front we are going to see the snow line drop to 800 metres in the morning before it drops down to about 500 metres late afternoon on Friday.
“[It] should continue around the 500 metre mark right into Saturday morning before gradually lifting back to [between] 800 to 900 metres by Saturday afternoon.
“The best chance of picking up some snow on the ground would be after the showers pick up late on Saturday morning.
“But the coldest air will move through when there is not much shower activity around. [But] we do expect a few flurries at times.
“In terms of getting [snow] accumulation on the ground that may not happen until later Saturday morning,” Delamotte told Kinglake Ranges News.
Weather Situation: A strong cold front will reach western Victoria late this afternoon before crossing the remainder of the State tonight and Friday morning. An associated deep low pressure system is forecast to cross Bass Strait overnight tonight, passing to the south of Melbourne in the early hours of Friday morning.
DAMAGING WEST TO NORTHWESTERLY WINDS, averaging 50 to 70 km/h with peak gusts of 90 to 100 km/h are possible across western parts of the warning area early this evening before extending across remaining parts of the warning area tonight and early Friday.
Peak wind gusts may reach up to 110 km/h about southern parts of the South West and Central districts, including the south eastern suburbs of Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula, and the west Gippsland coast. The strongest winds are expected to affect the Melbourne area between 3am and 9am Friday.
Localised DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 130 km/h are possible southwest of a line from Casterton to Cape Otway until early Friday morning.
About the Alpine region (above 1200 metres) peak gusts may reach up to 120 km/h. Blizzards are likely about the Alpine region tonight and Friday morning.
Winds are expected to ease over the western and central parts of the warning area during Friday morning.
Locations which may be affected include Mildura, Horsham, Portland, Hamilton, Warrnambool, Bendigo, Seymour, Ballarat, Geelong, Melbourne, Traralgon, Wonthaggi, Mt Baw Baw, Mt Buller, Mt Hotham and Falls Creek.
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 pm AEST Thursday.
–With Tom Delamotte, Senior Forecaster, Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne.
