Forecast

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Victoria

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Severe Weather Warning
for Damaging Winds And Heavy Rainfall

for East Gippsland and parts of Central, North Central, North East and West and South Gippsland Forecast Districts.

Issued at 9:45 am Friday, 27 March 2026.

Damaging southerly winds, heavy rainfall and blizzard conditions continuing over parts of the state today.

Weather Situation
A vigorous coastal low has developed offshore of the southern NSW coast, leading to damaging southerly winds developing over parts of the state overnight. Heavy rainfall is also expected to develop over parts of East Gippsland, as these winds combine with ample moisture to rise over topography. This may also bring blizzard conditions to alpine areas. The low will move further offshore later on Friday, leading to an easing of conditions across the state.
DAMAGING WINDS and HEAVY RAINFALL for the following areas:
Central, East Gippsland, North Central, North East and West and South Gippsland
For the CENTRAL RANGES: DAMAGING SOUTHERLY WIND GUSTS with peak gusts of around 90 km/h are expected to continue for the remainder of the morning and into the early afternoon.
For EASTERN AREAS: DAMAGING SOUTHERLY WIND GUSTS with peak gusts of around 90 km/h are expected to continue for the remainder of the morning and into the early aftrenoon, with gusts increasing to 100 km/h near the coast. For ALPINE areas above 1600m: DAMAGING SOUTHERLY WINDS averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts of around 100 km/h are occurring and likely to continue into the afternoon. BLIZZARD conditions are also forecast for the remainder of the morning and into the afternoon.
HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is developing over the elevated terrain of East Gippsland this morning and is expected to continue into the afternoon. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 60 to 80 mm are likely.
Conditions remain gusty across the MELBOURNE area and parts of the central coastline, but have now eased below warning thresholds. Conditions should ease about the central ranges by the early afternoon, and throughout by Friday evening.
Flood warnings are current over the area. See https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts for details.
Locations which may be affected include Orbost, Falls Creek, Dargo, Buchan, Kyneton and Mallacoota.
Severe observations to 9:45 am:
61.6 mm was recorded at Buldah in the 3 hours to 9:40 am.
68.8 mm was recorded at Chandlers Creek (Cann River) in the 3 hours to 9:30 am.
102 km/h gust with 81 km/h sustained winds were recorded at Falls Creek around 7:30 am.
93 km/h gust with 63 km/h sustained winds were recorded at Mt Buller around 6:05 am.
109 km/h gust was recorded at South Channel Island at 1:41 am.
94 km/h gust was recorded at St Kilda Harbour at 2:10 am.

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 5:00 pm AEDT Friday.
Check https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts. Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts or call 1300 659 210. The Bureau and State Emergency Service would appreciate warnings being broadcast regularly.

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Victoria

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Severe Weather Warning
for Damaging Winds And Heavy Rainfall

for East Gippsland and parts of Central, North Central, North East and West and South Gippsland Forecast Districts.

Issued at 9:45 am Friday, 27 March 2026.

Damaging southerly winds, heavy rainfall and blizzard conditions continuing over parts of the state today.

Weather Situation
A vigorous coastal low has developed offshore of the southern NSW coast, leading to damaging southerly winds developing over parts of the state overnight. Heavy rainfall is also expected to develop over parts of East Gippsland, as these winds combine with ample moisture to rise over topography. This may also bring blizzard conditions to alpine areas. The low will move further offshore later on Friday, leading to an easing of conditions across the state.
DAMAGING WINDS and HEAVY RAINFALL for the following areas:
Central, East Gippsland, North Central, North East and West and South Gippsland
For the CENTRAL RANGES: DAMAGING SOUTHERLY WIND GUSTS with peak gusts of around 90 km/h are expected to continue for the remainder of the morning and into the early afternoon.
For EASTERN AREAS: DAMAGING SOUTHERLY WIND GUSTS with peak gusts of around 90 km/h are expected to continue for the remainder of the morning and into the early aftrenoon, with gusts increasing to 100 km/h near the coast. For ALPINE areas above 1600m: DAMAGING SOUTHERLY WINDS averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts of around 100 km/h are occurring and likely to continue into the afternoon. BLIZZARD conditions are also forecast for the remainder of the morning and into the afternoon.
HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is developing over the elevated terrain of East Gippsland this morning and is expected to continue into the afternoon. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 60 to 80 mm are likely.
Conditions remain gusty across the MELBOURNE area and parts of the central coastline, but have now eased below warning thresholds. Conditions should ease about the central ranges by the early afternoon, and throughout by Friday evening.
Flood warnings are current over the area. See https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts for details.
Locations which may be affected include Orbost, Falls Creek, Dargo, Buchan, Kyneton and Mallacoota.
Severe observations to 9:45 am:
61.6 mm was recorded at Buldah in the 3 hours to 9:40 am.
68.8 mm was recorded at Chandlers Creek (Cann River) in the 3 hours to 9:30 am.
102 km/h gust with 81 km/h sustained winds were recorded at Falls Creek around 7:30 am.
93 km/h gust with 63 km/h sustained winds were recorded at Mt Buller around 6:05 am.
109 km/h gust was recorded at South Channel Island at 1:41 am.
94 km/h gust was recorded at St Kilda Harbour at 2:10 am.

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 5:00 pm AEDT Friday.
Check https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts. Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts or call 1300 659 210. The Bureau and State Emergency Service would appreciate warnings being broadcast regularly.

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Victoria

Warning to Sheep Graziers

for Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, North Central, North East, South West, Central, West and South Gippsland and East Gippsland forecast districts

Issued at 04:23 AM EDT on Friday 27 March 2026

Warning to Sheep Graziers for the following areas:
Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, North Central, North East, South West, Central, West and South Gippsland and East Gippsland forecast districts
Sheep graziers are warned that cold temperatures, heavy rain and showers and southerly winds are expected during Friday and Saturday. Areas likely to be affected include the North Central, North East, West and South Gippsland and East Gippsland forecast districts and parts of the Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, South West and Central forecast districts. There is a risk of losses of lambs and sheep exposed to these conditions.

The next warning will be issued by 11:00 am EDT Friday.