UPDATED, 12.15pm: A severe weather warning has just been issued for damaging winds expected to impact the south-west.
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The warning put out at 11am is for people in parts of south-west and Wimmera forecast districts.
A low pressure system will deepen over central Bass Strait this afternoon before moving north over central Victoria during Wednesday morning.
Damaging southerly winds, averaging 50 to 60 km/h with peak gusts of 90 to 100 km/h, are expected to develop about the south-west coastal fringe and elevated parts of the western ranges during the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Locations which may be affected include Warrnambool, Portland, Apollo Bay and the Grampians.
The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
- If driving conditions are dangerous, safely pull over away from trees, drains, low-lying areas and floodwater. Avoid travel if possible.
- Stay safe by avoiding dangerous hazards, such as floodwater, mud, debris, damaged roads and fallen trees.
- Be aware - heat, fire or recent storms may make trees unstable and more likely to fall when it's windy or wet.
- Check that loose items, such as outdoor settings, umbrellas and trampolines are safely secured. Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
- Stay indoors and away from windows.
- If outdoors, move to a safe place indoors. Stay away from trees, drains, gutters, creeks and waterways.
- Stay away from fallen powerlines - always assume they are live.
- Be aware that in fire affected areas, rainfall run-off into waterways may contain debris such as ash, soil, trees and rocks. Heavy rainfall may also increase the potential for landslides and debris across roads.
- Stay informed: Monitor weather warnings, forecasts and river levels at the Bureau of Meteorology website, and warnings through VicEmergency website/app/hotline.
Earlier: Welcome to winter in the south-west - the weather situation is highlighted by a sheep graziers alert.
Sheep farmers are warned that cold temperatures, rain and showers and southerly winds are expected during Tuesday and Wednesday.
Areas likely to be affected include the south-west, North Central, North East, Central, West and South Gippsland and East Gippsland forecast districts and parts of the Mallee, Wimmera and Northern Country.
There is a risk of losses of lambs and sheep exposed to these conditions.
Today across the south-west will be cloudy, with an almost 100 per cent chance of showers, the chance of a thunderstorm and possible hail in the late morning and afternoon.
Light winds will become southerly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then tend south-westerly 20 to 30 km/h in the late afternoon.
At 7am in Warrnambool it was 7.4 degrees, felt like 3.9 and we've had 13.2mm of rain since 9am yesterday.
Warrnambool is expecting a top of 12 degrees, Hamilton 10, Colac 11, Ararat 10, Casterton 12, Mortlake 10, Heywood 12, Portland 12, Port Fairy 12, Terang 10 and Camperdown 9.
A low pressure system will form today over central Bass Strait before moving north over Victoria on Wednesday as a stronger low centre develops off the southern NSW coast.
This low centre is expected to intensify rapidly later on Wednesday, then remain near the southern NSW coast and gradually weaken during Thursday and Friday.
For the week ahead - Wednesday we are expecting showers and a top of 12, Thursday cloudy 15, Friday mostly sunny 16, Saturday scattered showers 15, Sunday mostly cloudy 15, Monday scattered showers 15 and Tuesday showers 15.
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