Dangerous winds forecast to sweep through Melbourne on Thursday are expected to be followed by snow on Friday, as the city farewells a brief "spring break" from the winter's gloom.
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Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Terry Ryan said destructive gusts of up to 110km/h would hit the city from about 5am on Thursday and last until the early afternoon.
The mercury will fall from Wednesday – which recorded a top temperature of 19.1 degrees – to a 16-degree maximum on Thursday, 12 degrees on Friday and maximums of 13 and 14 degrees on Saturday and Sunday, with overnight lows of five degrees on the weekend.
"It's been a bit like spring, a bit early," Mr Ryan said of Wednesday's mild weather.
But he said it would not last, with showers and possible hail forecast for Thursday and a severe weather warning issued for most of the state.
Damaging winds are predicted to hit the Dandenongs, Macedon and Alpine ranges, Ballarat, the Grampians, Mornington, Bellarine, and the Surf and Bass coasts.
Thunderstorms are expected on Friday and snow will fall on areas above 500m, including the Kinglake Ranges and Mount Macedon.
Despite the colder temperatures on the weekend, Mr Ryan said the winds would ease and be light for Saturday and Sunday.
The SES has warned Melburnians to secure loose outdoor items, to stay indoors and away from windows, not to park under trees, to be prepared for blackouts and to keep away from fallen trees and power lines.
