Severe Weather Warning: Damaging Winds Forecast for Central and Eastern Victoria

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a severe weather warning (IDV21037) for damaging winds. This top-priority alert was issued at 11:44 am AEDT on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, and remains active as a cold front approaches the region.

Affected Areas

The warning covers several forecast districts in Victoria, including:

• Central
• East Gippsland
• North East
• South West
• West and South Gippsland

Specific locations identified as potentially affected include Falls Creek, Mt Baw Baw, Mt Hotham, Mt Buller, and Lorne. The primary impact areas are expected to be the Otways, lee slopes, and the higher terrain of eastern Victoria.

What You Should Do

The State Emergency Service (SES) advises residents to take the following precautions:

• Secure Loose Items: Check that outdoor settings, umbrellas, and trampolines are safely secured. Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
• Stay Indoors: Remain inside and away from windows. If caught outdoors, move to a safe indoor location and stay away from trees, drains, and waterways.
• Travel Safety: If driving conditions become dangerous, pull over safely away from trees and floodwater. Avoid travel if possible.
• Hazard Awareness: Stay away from fallen powerlines and assume they are live. Be aware that trees may be unstable due to recent heat, fire, or storms.
• Fire-Affected Areas: Residents in fire-affected zones should be alert for rainfall run-off containing debris (ash, soil, rocks) and the potential for landslides.

Expected Conditions

Strengthening northwesterly winds are forecast to develop ahead of a cold front. Residents can expect:

• Average Wind Speeds: 50 to 60 km/h.
• Damaging Wind Gusts: Around 90 km/h possible about the Otways and higher terrain.
• Peak Gusts: Winds may reach up to 100 km/h about exposed elevated peaks in the North East.

Timeline

The hazardous conditions are expected to begin around sunrise on Wednesday morning. Winds are forecast to contract from the west throughout the afternoon. Conditions should ease in the Otways by early afternoon, while damaging winds in the eastern districts may persist until late afternoon Wednesday.