It was a warm but windy morning for the south west on Friday.
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The temperature at 7am was 10.7 degrees in Warrnambool and there was a wind gust of 41 km/hr.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for destructive winds at 5am. Northerly winds are expected to strengthen ahead of a cold front in the morning, which will reach the south west in the afternoon.
Damaging northerly winds averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts of 90 to 100 km/h are expected to develop from the west on Friday. Peak gusts of this magnitude are likely to become widespread during Friday morning and will persist during the afternoon.
The winds are expected to ease following the passage of the cold front.
Strong wind gusts were felt early in the morning, with Cape Otway experiencing a northerly 82km/hr wind gust at 6.44am, Warrnambool 67 km/h at 4.22am and Mortlake 65km/h at 3.24am.
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; and keep clear of fallen power lines.
Warrnambool has seen 40.2mm of rainfall so far this month, Hamilton 40.6mm, Port Fairy 36.8mm and Portland 30.8mm.
