Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Michael Efron said damaging gusts of up to 110km/h would hit the city about 8am and last throughout the morning.

He said the mercury would then drop dramatically for a cold and wet afternoon.

“It’s quite mild this morning, with temperatures up around 17 degrees, but by late afternoon the temperature will drop to eight or nine degrees,” he said.

“With the cold winds, it could feel like zero or one degrees.”

Mr Efron said rain would clear later on Thursday evening, giving way to snowfall as low as 500 metres above sea level.

“That gives the potential for quite a good dumping of snow across the Dandenongs and the Macedon Ranges and across to Ballarat and across the Otways,” he said.

Friday would bring the chance of thunderstorms and hail in Melbourne, Mr Efron said.

A severe weather warning has been issued for most of the state, with damaging winds predicted to hit the Dandenongs, Macedon and Alpine ranges, Ballarat, the Grampians, Mornington, Bellarine, and the Surf and Bass coasts.

Cold temperatures are expected to continue through the weekend, but winds are forecast to be light on Saturday and Sunday.

The State Emergency Service has warned Melburnians to secure loose outdoor items, to stay indoors and away from windows, not to park under trees, to be prepared for blackouts and to keep away from fallen trees and power lines.