Victoria: Cold Outbreak. Series of Strong Cold Fronts. August 23rd - 28th 2009

It is a significant wind event for Bass Strait which will go into complete storm force mode tomorrow so very turbulent for the travellers on the spirit of Tasmania!! Bring extra sick bags!!

Winds rapidly developing and so is the middle level cloud, almost turning into a mackeral sky situation. Showers building on the windward slopes may increase, thicken and start to roll off into the Melbourne region over the coming two hours, a bit like yesterday. Another sizeable rainband looks likely to develop. Just a lot more wind.

Good to hear you getting some Scott!!!

Yes Karl - 12mm at Yea for yesterday which is not so bad. Hope more comes out of this lot.

That low pressure system is getting a pretty well defined eye as it enters warmer waters....this is very ominous.

the winds has cranked up in the last 30min this is very exciting

Media really pumping up this system, now advising city commuters to go home early with "wild storms" expecting to cause peak-hour chaos.

Winds of up to 120km/h are forecast to hit Melbourne about 5pm with the SES and tram and train operators urging people to leave work early to avoid long delays.

The SES is advising tram passengers to go home by 2pm and train passengers to leave their commute to no later than 3pm.

What a dream news story this one is from the ABC website for anyone wanting to go chasing today! lol

Melbourne workers urged to leave before storm hits

Edit : I see you noticed it too Sniper! Unfortunately my boss just laughed when i showed him

Hinezy, tell your boss it's Armageddon and you need to film the last moments of earth as we all know it.

Like you mate, am stuck in Bourke Street until 1700.

PS. I am not taking the proverbial out of this event. It does have potential of being a very dangerous one given the timing.

Got a feeling that there will not be enough heat and too much wind for any huge storms...

never was going to be huge storms with lightning and thunder, the wind is the storm. Violent winds on the chwnge and a couple hours pre-change are concerning. 50 knot winds at Narracorte for example.

Spot on Karl. Nice line on the Mt G radar. I'm sure Jake will fill us in on his return!!

Does 5pm sound too soon for the main front?

Thank goodness i work from home;) I agree, might get the odd rumble or 2 but was never going to be an epic t'storm event. Most of the sparks will prob be sth of the coast, and will fire east of Latrobe. Sale could get a show later tonight.

Pretty calm here atm.

It's also "encouraging" to note that the Mt Gambier AWS has been offline for the past hour! Especially since the Cape Jaffa AWS reported a 102km/h wind gust about an hour ago.

I take back the calm conditions..... picked up greatly. Cape nelson has had sustained wind gusts of over 100km for the past 30 mins. Nice.

Those extreme winds extend to Colac presently where the ranges around the around the region clocking up 110kmh winds.

I'm out of here at 3

Will be interesting to see what crazy winds are produced in Alpine regions...... could see some mid 100's.

Buller will push 150

Anything to report DarkEye?

Sniper wrote:Anything to report DarkEye?

Sure do, Heavy rain and winds plus a flash and rumble about 20 minutes ago.

For those of you going storm chasing please stay safe, those winds are very strong and dangerous.

The Wilsons Prom area will experience winds of up to 150kmh tomorrow. Especially near the front during tomorrow.

The gusts are certainly picking up here. Managed up to 49.9k/h which is quite a gust for a normally sheltered position. 7.25mm of rain recorded yesterday too, so that's pretty good. Currently 13.2C and baro is dropping, now 998.4 hPa.

I pity my poor husband who has to travel across the West Gate Bridge to get home... That's not going to be fun at all!

Wonder if it will reach this far north... Usually play Basketball outside at 5pm here... I might call it off i think...

They may close down the West Gate for a period of time..... now that will cause a few issues.

Yup will agree there..total chaos!

Winds are getting stronger here and a fair chill factor in it. Can imagine when the front comes through it will be quite a snap in it. So far 7mm of rain since yesterday

Still got excessive winds in the southwest 30mins following the change. Going to be wild for a while.

Hey guys, when do you reckon the West Gate will be closed? When will the winds start picking up and the worst of the winds be between Geelong and Melbourne?

Just got some family travelling so I thought I would call on some expertise. Ta.