Damaging winds exceeding 100km/h are forecast to hit Melbourne on Wednesday afternoon, posing a risk of damage to homes and with the potential to bring down trees and powerlines across the city.

Light rain fell over the city on Wednesday morning, but wind speeds were expected to ramp up by lunchtime, said the Bureau of Meteorology’s Dean Narramore.

Damaging winds are forecast across Victoria today. Credit: Paul Jeffers

A severe weather warning for damaging winds is in place across most of the state, and Narramore said suburbs bordering Port Philip Bay would be the hardest hit in Melbourne.

“Once we get into the afternoon and evening, wind gusts of 90 to 100 and even to 110km/h is possible, mostly by the coast … or in the hills up towards the Dandenong [Ranges],” he said.

Melbourne

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