Damaging winds gusting to 122km/h hit the Victorian alps early on Tuesday, and the Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for the state's east as a series of cold fronts moved across southeastern Australia.
The Bureau issued the warning, product IDV21037, at 10:45am AEST on Tuesday for the East Gippsland, North East, and West and South Gippsland forecast districts. It described winds averaging 70 to 80km/h with peak gusts of up to 120km/h over elevated areas.
The observed gusts ran higher in places. The Bureau recorded a gust of 122km/h at Mount Hotham at 5:10am, 117km/h at Mount Buller about three hours later, and 106km/h at Falls Creek before dawn, with average wind speeds around 80km/h at each.
Rain is the second hazard. A flood watch issued on Monday covers parts of the North East and Central Victoria, and the Bureau has a minor flood warning current for the Kiewa River. Forecast falls reach 50 to 100mm from northwest New South Wales through to northeast Victoria, and the Bureau put totals in the far northeast alps at 150mm or more.
The Bureau listed the Upper Murray, Mitta Mitta, Ovens, King, Broken and Goulburn catchments as those to watch, with minor to moderate flooding likely from Tuesday and isolated major flooding possible. A sheep graziers warning and a marine wind warning are also current.
The Bureau expects the alpine winds to ease through Tuesday afternoon and drop out by evening, before a second front arrives. Wednesday is the busier day in the forecast, with renewed damaging northwesterly winds over high ground as the front approaches in the evening, and a chance of severe thunderstorms carrying large hail.
Colder air follows on Thursday and into Friday, bringing snow to the alps that the Bureau called welcome news for the resorts. The next update on the flood watch was due early Tuesday afternoon, and the wind warning will be reissued or cancelled as conditions change.
