“These wind speeds will bring destruction,” Wiebusch said. “These wind speeds are likely to impact our power systems, so we are alerting all Victorians – make sure that you are prepared now.”
Melbourne Airport may have to delay flights landing, but there are few flights scheduled when the weather system is expected to hit, Wiebusch said.
Thunderstorms and potentially gusty showers would move ahead of the cold front, the bureau warned.
Victorians should stay clear of fallen power lines, Wiebusch said.
He warned residents of heavily treed areas – including the Grampians, Dandenong ranges, Macedon ranges and Central Ranges – should avoid unnecessary travel on Friday evening and Saturday morning.
Fallen trees had already trapped people inside several cars across Victoria by Friday afternoon. Mount Hotham had recorded a top wind speed of 113km/h by 3pm, while Mount Buller recorded 100km/h and Horsham hit 94km/h.
The State Emergency Service fielded almost 80 calls for help between midday Thursday and 2pm Friday. By Friday afternoon, the service was “starting to see those numbers grow”, assistant chief officer Mark Cattell said.
Snow was expected to fall as low as 600 metres in Victoria’s alpine areas, which could produce blizzard conditions, the bureau said.
The blizzard conditions would continue to make the police search for alleged double murder Dezi Freeman in Victoria’s High Country “very difficult”, Wiebusch said.
Conditions were expected to start easing across Victoria from Saturday.
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