The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds for much of the state this morning.

Damaging winds around 50 to 60 km/h with peak gusts up to 90 km/h were forecast to develop late Tuesday afternoon and evening as part of a cold front moving rapidly eastward.

An SES spokeswoman said they received 44 requests across the south-west region (which includes Geelong and the Surf Coast) from 5pm yesterday.

The requests for assistance were mainly related to fallen branches and trees blocking roads, but also included four building damage incidents.

Two calls for help relating to flooding had also been received, including one in Portland, the spokeswoman said.

Giorgio Palmeri from the Warrnambool SES unit and Steve McDowell from the Port Fairy unit both said luckily they had not been called out overnight.

Both crews were preparing for the next front expected to hit this afternoon.

The State Emergency Service advises that people should:

- Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.

- Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.

- Keep clear of fallen power lines.

For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 132 500.

Over the 24-hour period up to 9am Tuesday morning, 11.4 mm of rainfall was recorded at Warrnambool and 10.6 mm at Hamilton.