Weather warnings issued for most of Victoria

VICTORIANS are being urged to prepare for severe weather over the next day or two, with several severe thunderstorm warnings in place for the state of Victoria.

The warnings come after a trough and cold front crossed the Great Australian Bight overnight and moved towards the nation’s southeastern states.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said this morning (Sunday, August 25) that the weather system would reach western Victoria about noon and would reach Melbourne later in the afternoon.

“For Victoria, storms are already occurring across parts of the northern districts of the state

“The storm risk will really increase from around mid-early afternoon, ramping up significantly across Central Victoria and around the Melbourne area.

“The peak period for storms is going to be mid-late afternoon, pushing into the early evening covering much of central Victoria and around the Melbourne area, including the northern, western suburbs and all the way down to Geelong and even into West Gippsland as well, where we will see severe thunderstorms.”

Ms Bradbury warned people to take precautions against damaging winds and large hail.

The Bureau of Meteorology states that during destructive winds and localised heavy rain, people should be aware of potential hazards including damaged buildings, trees down, debris and fallen powerlines.

People should also take extra care while driving if conditions are dangerous, such as keeping away from trees, drains, low lying areas and potential floodwater.

“We do also have severe weather warnings for damaging winds current for parts of Victoria and south-east New South Wales, but that wind risk will follow after the storms have eased later this evening, as some windy weather follows through in the wake of this system later tonight and into tomorrow,” Ms Bradbury said.

For more information, head to bom.gov.au