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GUSTY winds and rain will lash Ballarat throughout the day – with peak gusts expected to hit between 90-100 km/h.
Temperatures are currently relatively warm – they did not dip below 11 degrees overnight – however a cold front will hit Ballarat this afternoon, causing temperatures to drop to single figures.
Weatherzone meteorologist Rob Sharpe said temperatures would not exceed single figures until Wednesday.
Winds hit Ballarat overnight – with peak gusts of 74 km/h recorded just after midnight. Conditions calmed until 4.30am when wind speeds picked up.
“Warm north to north-westerly winds are fairly strong – it is keeping temperatures up – because (the wind) is mixing warm air back up to the surface,” Mr Sharpe said.
The SES reported a number of trees down throughout Victoria overnight and were bracing themselves for more damage clean-up.
The Bureau of Meteorology has put out a revised weather warning following early morning rain today.
Forecasts are for damaging winds and heavy rainfall across Victoria.
Ballarat received four millimetres of rain overnight, with fierce winds lashing the city.
The strongest wind gust was 74km/h at 1.30am.
Up to 10mm of rain is forecast today.
BOM’s severe weather warning is for parts of the Wimmera, North Central, North East, South West, Central, West and South Gippsland and East Gippsland forecast districts.
Winds of around 60 to 70km/h should be expected with peak gusts of 90 to 100km/h.
Recorded wind gusts have reached 115km/h at Mt Buller, 112km/h at Mt William, 92km/h at Mt Gellibrand and 85km/h at Fawkner Beacon.
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 drive, ride or walk 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.
- Be alert that in areas recently affected by fires, heavy rainfall increases the potential for landslides and debris across roads.
- For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 132 500.
- The next warning will be issued at 11am today.
- For more details visit www.bom.gov.au
VicRoads is also pushing the safety message in the trying conditions, urging motorists to take care. It advises people should:
- Wet weather should be a prompt to slow down on the roads;
- Driving in wet and windy weather can make it harder to drive safely and motorists are urged to match their driving to the weather conditions;
- Leave a greater distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front;
- Be alert for other road users who may be difficult to see, such as motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians;
- Use low beam headlights during the day if poor weather reduces visibility;
- Obey speed limits, particularly on the West Gate Bridge, as they may be lowered due to high winds;
- If the rain is too heavy for your wipers to cope, the best course of action is to pull over and wait until visibility improves;
- Traffic slows during wet and windy weather and that’s a good thing – people need to drive to the conditions;
- Secure your load;
- Keep your car roadworthy – in particular, check tyres, windscreen wipers and brake lights on a regular basis;
- Most importantly – be patient;
- Plan your journey and monitor VicTraffic for road condition updated.
