Victorians have been warned to brace for wild weather and a blustery night as a cold front pushes damaging winds across the state.
Squally conditions are forecast to develop over western districts on Monday afternoon, with winds averaging 50-70km/h and gusts up to 100km/h expected.
The winds will move across the state overnight before moderating around the Central and Gippsland districts around dawn on Tuesday..
Senior bureau forecaster Scott Williams said the cold front was expected to hit Melbourne about 10pm, with the winds strongest a couple of hours before and after that.
Bayside areas and the Mornington Peninsula would feel the brunt of gusts up to 90km/h until about 3am.
“The overnight period particularly is going to be pretty wild, pretty windy (around Port Phillip Bay),” Mr Williams said.
The cold front is expected to reach the state’s western border by 4pm, Mildura around 6pm and Warrnambool around 7pm.
Wind gusts of 90km/h have already been recorded in Mount Hotham.
The State Emergency Service has warned people to move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
People should secure loose items around the house and keep clear of fallen power lines, the SES said.
A gale warning has also been issued for the Port Phillip, West Coast, Central Coast and Central Gippsland Coast districts, while a strong wind warning is current for the Western Port and East Gippsland Coast regions.
Monday is forecast to reach a maximum of 26 before a week of predicted showers.
This story first appeared in The Age.
