UPDATE, Thursday, 10am:
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The Bureau Of Meteorology has issued a gale marine wind warning for the west coast and Port Phillip Bay at 10am on Thursday, May 30.
The gale warning will remain in place for Friday, May 31, and extend to the central coast and Gippsland coast.
Earlier: A severe weather warning was issued this morning for elevated parts of Victoria, including the Grampians and the Otway Ranges.
The warning is for damaging wind gusts and heavy rain today, May 30, and tomorrow.
A vigorous cold front is approaching from the west of the state today and will progress across Victoria, clearing by late Friday morning.
According to the Bureau Of Meteorology this will strengthen the pressure gradient and north to north-westerly winds across elevated areas and their immediate lee slopes during today and Friday.
Heavy rainfall is expected to develop over the ranges in north-eastern Victoria from late this evening into early Friday morning.
For the Grampians and Otway Ranges strong winds are tipped averaging 50 to 60 km/h with damaging wind gusts of around 90 km/h are developing this morning.
Winds are expected to ease over the Otways late this morning, and over the Grampians by mid-afternoon today.
Locations which may be affected include Bright, Mount Baw Baw, Falls Creek, Mount Hotham, Mount Buller and Omeo.
A 113 km/h wind gust was recorded at Mount William at 4.18am in Halls Gap and a 90 km/h wind gust was recorded at Mount Hotham at 4.37am.
Today in Warrnambool it will be cloudy with a very high chance of rain, most likely this afternoon and evening.
Winds will be northerly 25 to 40 km/h decreasing to 20 to 25 km/h in the evening then tending north-westerly 25 to 30 km/h in the late evening.
The city is expecting a top of 18 degrees, with Hamilton 16, Colac, Mortlake, Heywood and Portland 17 and Port Fairy 18.
There's a guarantee of rain in Warrnambool today according to the bureau, between 2-8mm, and 100 per cent again tomorrow, between 1-5mm.
Tops for Warrnambool on Friday and Saturday are tipped to be a brisk 15 degrees.
The weather warning was issued at 5am this morning and will be updated at 11am.
The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
- If driving conditions are dangerous, safely pull over away from trees, drains, low-lying areas and floodwater. Avoid travel if possible.
- Stay safe by avoiding dangerous hazards, such as floodwater, mud, debris, damaged roads and fallen trees.
- Be aware - heat, fire or recent storms may make trees unstable and more likely to fall when it's windy or wet.
- Check that loose items, such as outdoor settings, umbrellas and trampolines are safely secured. Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
- Stay indoors and away from windows.
- If outdoors, move to a safe place indoors. Stay away from trees, drains, gutters, creeks and waterways.
- Stay away from fallen powerlines - always assume they are live.
- Be aware that in fire affected areas, rainfall run-off into waterways may contain debris such as ash, soil, trees and rocks. Heavy rainfall may also increase the potential for landslides and debris across roads.
- Stay informed: Monitor weather warnings, forecasts and river levels at the Bureau of Meteorology website, and warnings through VicEmergency website/app/hotline.
