Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Victoria
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST
Severe Weather Warning
for Damaging Winds
for Mallee, South West, Wimmera and parts of Central, Northern Country and North Central Forecast Districts.
Issued at 4:44 pm Wednesday, 25 December 2024.
Damaging wind gusts to develop over western and central Victoria from Thursday morning.
Weather Situation
North to northwesterly winds will strengthen over western Victoria ahead of a cold front which reaches the state border in the early afternoon Thursday before crossing the western districts through the afternoon and reaching central districts around sunset. Winds will shift to the west to southwest on and immediately behind the front before weakening by late Thursday evening.
DAMAGING WINDS for the following areas:
Central, Mallee, South West, Northern Country, North Central and Wimmera
North to northwesterly winds with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS with peak gusts of around 90 km/h are likely over the Grampians and Central ranges northwest of Melbourne from around sunrise on Thursday morning, before easing by the early afternoon.
Isolated DAMAGING WIND GUSTS with peak gusts of around 100 km/h are possible again from the early afternoon over broader parts of the Mallee, Wimmera, and South West districts as winds shift to the west to southwest along and immediately behind the cold front progressing through the state.
Winds are expected to ease below warning thresholds over the remaining warning area by late Thursday evening once the cold front reaches the central districts.
Locations which may be affected include Mildura, Horsham, Stawell, Hamilton, Ballarat and Bacchus Marsh.
The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* If driving conditions are dangerous, safely pull over away from trees, drains, low-lying areas and floodwater. Avoid travel if possible.
* Stay safe by avoiding dangerous hazards, such as floodwater, mud, debris, damaged roads and fallen trees.
* Be aware - heat, fire or recent storms may make trees unstable and more likely to fall when it's windy or wet.
* Check that loose items, such as outdoor settings, umbrellas and trampolines are safely secured. Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
* Stay indoors and away from windows.
* If outdoors, move to a safe place indoors. Stay away from trees, drains, gutters, creeks and waterways.
* Stay away from fallen powerlines - always assume they are live.
* Be aware that in fire affected areas, rainfall run-off into waterways may contain debris such as ash, soil, trees and rocks. Heavy rainfall may also increase the potential for landslides and debris across roads.
* Stay informed: Monitor weather warnings, forecasts and river levels at the Bureau of Meteorology website, and warnings through VicEmergency website/app/hotline.
The next Severe Weather Warning will be issued by 11:00 pm AEDT Wednesday.
Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts, the Bureau's website at www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 210. The Bureau and State Emergency Service would appreciate warnings being broadcast regularly.
Forecast
Ardonachie (38.0633°S, 141.9574°E, 75m AMSL) set as my default location ›
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7 day forecast
Today: Cloudy. The chance of smoke haze about the ranges in the morning. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the late afternoon and evening. Damaging winds possible. Winds N 35 to 50 km/h turning W/NW 30 to 45 km/h in the early afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to between 17 and 20 with daytime temperatures reaching the low to high 30s.
Forecast for Ardonachie (38.0633°S, 141.9574°E, 75m AMSL) Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Summary 
Minimum 18° 14° 13° 13° 13° 15° 13° Maximum 35° 20° 21° 23° 25° 22° 22° Chance of rain 80% 60% 80% 40% 10% 10% 10% Likely amount 1-5mm < 1mm 1-5mm < 1mm < 1mm < 1mm < 1mm UV index Extreme Very High Very High Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme Fire Danger Rating Extreme High High Moderate - - - Frost risk Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm Wind speed 32
(km/h)32
(km/h)33
(km/h)33
(km/h)29
(km/h)33
(km/h)23
(km/h)27
(km/h)9
(km/h)16
(km/h)13
(km/h)19
(km/h)14
(km/h)24
(km/h)Wind direction NNE NW WSW W NW W WNW WSW NNE SSW SSW SSW S SSW Relative humidity 36% 41% 65% 56% 78% 66% 77% 69% 77% 70% 77% 73% 70% 66% Dew point 15°C 18°C 9°C 11°C 13°C 14°C 14°C 17°C 15°C 19°C 15°C 17°C 12°C 15°C -
Sunrise and sunset times
Sunrise / Sunset for Ardonachie (38.0633°S, 141.9574°E, 75m AMSL) First light Sunrise Sunset Last light Moon rise Moon set Moon phase New moon First quarter Full moon Last quarter 5:35am EDT 6:07am EDT 8:57pm EDT 9:29pm EDT 2:26am EDT 4:38pm EDT 
Waning crescent
New moon Dec 31 First quarter Jan 07 Full moon Jan 14 Last quarter Jan 22 -
Warnings
- Severe Weather Warning (Damaging Winds) for Mallee, South West, Wimmera and parts of Central, Northern Country and North Central
- Severe Weather Warning (Damaging Winds) for Mallee, South West, Wimmera and parts of Central, Northern Country and North Central
- Gale Warning Thursday West & East Gippsland coasts. Strong Wind Warning Thursday Port Phillip, Western Port & Central & Central Gippslands
- Fire Weather Warning for Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, North Central, North East, South West, Central and West and South Gippsland
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Temperature for next 7 days
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Rain for next 7 days
