Weather News

Victoria cold in strong winds

Damaging winds and cold temperatures are impacting Victoria today with the risk of blizzards in the Alps.

A severe weather warning was issued this morning for damaging winds affecting all southern districts and Alpine areas of the North East. Winds are expected to gust around 90km/h along the coastal fringe and about elevated areas. Gusts this strong are capable of bringing down trees and power lines.

Blizzards are also a risk for the Alpine areas as snow showers continue for much of the day. Even without snow showers these winds are capable of blowing snow from the ground into the air to create blizzard conditions.

Melbourne has been embraced by a cold morning with an overnight low of eight degrees feeling more like four in the fresh and gusty winds. By 11am, the temperature had only struggled to 11 degrees and felt closer to eight.

Melbourne will stay cold throughout the day, only warming a couple more degrees early in the afternoon. Showers are more likely during the afternoon, however they should remain light.

The damaging winds and showers are due to a low pressure system that is crossing Tasmania today, directing strong northwesterlies that will tend westerly later in the day.

Winds will ease during the night before increasing again tomorrow afternoon and evening ahead of a cold front. Tomorrow's winds are unlikely to reach the strength of today. From Sunday winds will be much lighter until the next front arrives around Wednesday night.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2012

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Strong winds batter TAS

12:01 EST Damaging westerly winds and showers have battered southern and western parts of TAS this weekend as a series of cold fronts crossed the state.