The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued a weather warning for damaging winds at 0454 hours (local time) Friday (29 August) across large parts of Victoria.

The Victorian State Emergency Service (SES) has issued precautionary advice including avoiding travel if conditions are dangerous, securing loose items, moving vehicles under cover, and staying indoors during peak winds.

• Widespread damaging winds are forecast to develop during the day, impacting the Central, Mallee, South West, North Central, West and South Gippsland, Wimmera, and parts of East Gippsland, North East, and Northern Country forecast districts.
• Locations likely to be affected include Melbourne, Geelong, Mildura, Horsham, Warrnambool, Maryborough, Ballarat, Stawell, Hamilton, Portland, Wonthaggi, Bacchus Marsh, Mt Hotham, and Mt Buller.