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VICTORIANS have been warned to brace for a wet weekend as a massive cold snap delivers gale-force winds, hail and heavy rainfall across the state.
Workers are in for a chilly commute today after shivering through a frosty night with the mercury dropping close to 0C in some regions.
A severe weather warning is in place with strong winds and thunderstorms expected to lash the state through Saturday.
HOW MELBOURNE’S WEATHER IS FORECAST
WEATHER ALERTS AT EMERGENCY.VIC.GOV.AU
Up to 25mm of rain will be dumped on Melbourne alone today, concentrating in the northern and eastern suburbs, with gusts of up to 50km/h predicted.
Bureau of Meteorology severe weather manager Steven McGibbony said the “cold, biting” conditions could take Victorians by surprise.
“I’m sure it (will come) as quite a shock to a lot of people after what has been a relatively warm autumn so far — it’s going to feel very wintry and very cold,” he said.
But the soaking could delight farmers in regions parched from below-average rainfall in the past three months.
Melbourne will get a top of 14C today with an overnight dip to 10C that could have thousands reaching for extra blankets.
Tonight’s MCG clash between Hawthorn and Sydney is set to be a wet affair and fans have been urged to come prepared.
Eastern Victoria can expect up to 150mm in the next 48 hours, with Gippsland to bear the brunt of the rain.
A flood warning has been issued for the Gippsland and Upper Yarra catchment areas.
And snowbound travellers are in for a treat with more than 50cm of white powder expected to fall in alpine regions by Sunday.
State Emergency Services chief operations officer Tim Wiebusch pleaded with motorists to avoid a repeat of last weekend’s horror events, in which eight Victorians lost their lives on our roads.
“The heavy rain will bring challenging road conditions so don’t attempt to drive through flood waters — it can take as little as 15cm, the height of a pencil, for a car to float,” he said.
“We really are appealing to Victorians to take it easy ... make sure that you’re alert to your conditions,” he said.
Holiday-makers should avoid setting up camp near rivers or under trees, Mr Wiebusch said.
And he advised homeowners to clear gutters and stormwater drains to prevent flooding.
The cold front formed in the state’s west on Wednesday and moved over the central regions, including Melbourne, last night.
Sunday should bring relief with light showers giving way to a sunny afternoon.
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