Damaging winds expected today and tomorrow: Prepare now

Victorians are being urged to prepare their properties and prioritise their safety ahead of severe storms forecast for large parts of the state this evening and into Saturday morning.

Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) volunteers across Victoria are preparing to support their communities, with the Bureau of Meteorology anticipating the potential for prolonged damaging winds which could impact parts of Victoria later today.

The state’s southwest coast and Grampians regions are forecast to record sustained winds of up to 70km/h and gusts of nearly 110km/h forecast for extended periods from 7pm this evening.

Similar winds are anticipated to impact parts of Geelong, the Otways and the broader Bellarine Peninsula from 10pm, before moving towards Daylesford, the Macedon Ranges and then east towards Melbourne, the Eastern Ranges, the Mornington Peninsula and into South Gippsland, with gusts of up to 115km/h possible in some areas.

 Blizzard conditions are also possible in parts of the Eastern Ranges above 1200m.

 Community members in the warning zone are being encouraged to proactively prepare their properties for severe winds overnight, by safely securing outdoor items such as furniture, trampolines or umbrellas, and parking vehicles undercover or away from trees where possible.

Those in heavily wooded areas are also being encouraged to avoid unnecessary travel overnight and into Saturday morning, with the potential for road hazards to develop, trees to be downed and powerlines to be damaged as a result of adverse weather.

If severe weather develops, community members are encouraged to stay indoors and away from windows if possible, and be prepared for any potential delays to emergency response in the event of road closures or weather impacts.

Victorians can stay informed of their storm risk by downloading the VicEmergency mobile app and establishing their own personal watch zone to be notified of any emergency warnings issued.

Community members can also keep up-to-date by visiting bom.vic.gov.au/warnings.

For VICSES emergency assistance, call 132 500, or call 000 in a life-threatening emergency.

Quotes attributable to Mark Cattell, VICSES State Agency Commander:

“Preparation is the best defence against storms, so we ask community members take steps to secure loose outdoor items, limit travel where possible, and ensure they are ready to act appropriately in an emergency situation.

“These forecast gusts certainly have the capacity to impact trees and infrastructure, and while VICSES volunteers are highly trained and prepared to respond in support of their communities in an emergency scenario, it’s vital residents play their part to stay safe during periods of severe weather.”