Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Damaging Winds Issued for Parts of Central Victoria

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for damaging winds. This alert is designated as a top priority for immediate broadcast and is currently in effect for parts of the Central Forecast District in Victoria (VIC).

Affected Areas

The warning area encompasses portions of the Central Forecast District. Specific locations that may be affected by the approaching storm system include Frankston and Rosebud.

What You Should Do

The State Emergency Service (SES) advises residents in the warning area to take the following safety measures:

• Secure Loose Items: Ensure outdoor settings, umbrellas, and trampolines are safely secured. Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
• Seek Shelter: Stay indoors and away from windows. If caught outdoors, move to a safe indoor location and stay away from trees, drains, gutters, and waterways.
• Travel Safety: If driving conditions become dangerous, safely pull over away from trees, drains, and low-lying areas. Avoid travel if possible.
• Avoid Hazards: Stay away from fallen powerlines and assume they are live. Avoid floodwater, mud, debris, and damaged roads.
• Monitor Conditions: Residents in fire-affected areas should be aware that rainfall run-off may contain debris such as ash and soil, increasing the potential for landslides.

Expected Conditions

A cold front is moving rapidly eastwards across western and central Victoria. Strong flow aloft combined with sufficient instability ahead of the front is leading to a line of showers and thunderstorms developing along the frontal boundary. These severe thunderstorms are likely to produce isolated damaging wind gusts as they move rapidly eastwards.

Timeline

The warning was issued at 4:05 pm Wednesday, 11 March 2026. Severe thunderstorms are expected to impact the warning area over the next several hours. The Bureau of Meteorology expects to issue the next update by 7:05 pm. If severe thunderstorms develop specifically in the Melbourne Area, a more detailed warning will be issued.