UPDATE,11.30am: The wind chill factor has really kicked in.
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In Warrnambool it's a balmy 11.9 degrees but feels like just 1.7 - a staggering wind chill of 10.2 degrees.
Earlier: There's a severe weather warning for most of Victoria, including the south-west.
Today will be cloudy with a very high (95%) chance of rain, most likely during this afternoon and evening.
There will be gusty winds during the day and tonight, winds will be northerly 30 to 40 km/h turning westerly 35 to 45 km/h in the late evening.
At 8am in Warrnambool it's 9.7 degrees but feels like just 2.5 due to the howling north wind.
On top of all that there's a marine gale wind warning for the west coast.
Sheep graziers are warned that rain, colder temperatures and gusty northerly winds are expected to develop in the state's south-west during Wednesday afternoon, then extend inland and eastward at night.
There is a risk of losses of lambs and sheep exposed to these conditions.
Warrnambool is expecting a top temperature of 14 degrees, but it may not feel anything like that.
Hamilton is chasing a top of 12, Colac 13, Ararat 14, Casterton 13, Mortlake 14, Heywood 13, Portland 13, Port Fairy 15, Terang 13 and Camperdown 13.
As part of the severe weather warning damaging winds, averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts to 100 km/h are expected to develop about elevated areas (above 800 metres) and coastal parts of western Victoria on Wednesday afternoon.
Damaging wind gusts to 90 km/h are also possible about remaining parts of the south-west district and south-western parts of the Wimmera district on Wednesday afternoon near the front, extending into northern Victoria, West and South Gippsland and remaining parts of the Central district during the evening.
The front is forecast to move to the far east of Victoria by dawn on Thursday, then out to the Tasman Sea.
Locations which may be affected include Warrnambool, Hamilton and Portland district.
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.
A high pressure system lies over inland New South Wales as a cold front moves across waters south of the Bight.
The front is forecast to reach western Victoria late today, crossing to the far east early Thursday.
A stronger front will follow during Friday, with this second front moving across the southern Tasman Sea by Saturday as a ridge of high pressure develops over the Bight.
In Warrnambool showers are predicted for the next week with top temperatures tipped between 11 and 13 degrees.
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