Victoria is in the grip of very cold and windy spell due to a thrust from the deep southern oceans. Parts of the state, such as Wilsons Promontory have been hit by damaging wind gusts of 115km/h. The recent cold blast that began late on New Year's Eve has already given Tasmania unseasonal snowfall and gale force winds. Temperatures across Victoria today have been remarkably low, with highs falling to 12 below average in many places. Notably Melbourne only reached 18.6 degrees, seven below average and there has not been a colder daytime temperature in January for 13 years. Temperatures fell below zero for some areas such as Mt Hotham which managed to hit minus four overnight. Indeed, temperatures are again forecast to dip right across southern Victoria tonight and if Melbourne, as expected only reaches nine degrees, it could be the coldest January night in fifteen years. The good news is that as we move into Saturday and the weekend, daytime temperatures will recover back to the mid-twenties, which in comparison is baking.