Today will be cloudy and wet across the south-west and there are a string of weather warnings, highlighted by a severe weather warning for mkost of the state.
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According to the Bureau of Meteorology there's a very high (near 100%) chance of rain, most likely during the morning and afternoon.
Which is a fair prediction because just after 7am it's pouring in Warrnambool.
Winds will be northerly 30 to 35 km/h tending north-westerly 25 to 30 km/h in the middle of the day then decreasing to 15 to 20 km/h in the late afternoon.
There's a severe weather warning for the south-west and most of Victoria.
A rain band with associated strong winds is moving across Victoria.
Damaging winds, averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts of around 100 km/h are forecast in the west of the state this morning, mainly in elevated areas.
Wind gusts will also increase to 100-110 km/h in central Victoria this morning, again mainly in elevated areas, and up to 120 km/h about the north-east Alps.
There is lesser chance of wind gusts to 100 km/h in areas less than 1200m.
Winds are expected to gradually ease from the west during Wednesday afternoon.
Thunderstorms with heavy rains may lead to flash flooding this morning in the Wimmera and southern Mallee Districts.
Locations which may be affected include Horsham, Warrnambool, Bendigo, Shepparton, Seymour, Maryborough, Ballarat, Geelong, Melbourne, Wodonga, Wangaratta, Traralgon and Bairnsdale.
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;
- Don't walk, ride or drive through flood water;
- Keep clear of creeks and storm drains;
- Be aware that in fire affected areas, rainfall run-off into waterways may contain debris such as ash, soil, trees and rocks; and
- Be alert that in areas recently affected by fires, heavy rainfall increases the potential for landslides and debris across roads.
There's also a marine wind warning for the west coast.
Sheep graziers are also being told that cold temperatures, heavy rain and showers and north-westerly winds are expected during Wednesday.
Areas likely to be affected include parts of the south-west, the Mallee, Wimmera, northern Country, north central, north-east and central forecast districts.
There is a risk of losses of lambs and sheep exposed to these conditions.
Warrnambool is today expecting a top of 16 degrees.
At 7am in the city it was 14.1 degrees and felt like 5.7.
Hamilton is expecting a top of 15 degrees, Colac 15, Ararat 15, Casterton 15, Mortlake 15, Heywood 16, Portland 16, Port Fairy 16, Terang 15 and Camperdown 14.
A ridge of high pressure will continue to move eastwards over the Tasman Sea as a front moves across Victoria today, with a weaker front expected to cross Tasmania and southern Victoria later Thursday.
The next ridge of high pressure will extend across northern Victoria on Friday as another front passes to the south of Victoria.
The ridge will persist across northern Victoria during Saturday as yet another front moves over waters south of the Bight.
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