Chill wind rips through state - and it'll get worse - The Age

Batten down the hatches ... Melbourne is in for a blast. Photo: Ken Irwin/ File photo

There is a cold wind blowing out there and it is expected to get more fierce as the day drags on.

City commuters wrapped coats more tightly around themselves on Thursday morning as the wind-chill made what was a 10.4 degree morning feel more like a 1.3 degree morning.

The wind speed for Melbourne was 41km/h but wind gusts reached up to 80km/h at Fawkner about 2.30am on Thursday morning.

Senior forecaster Terry Ryan said the Bureau of Meteorology had released a strong-wind warning for all areas except the Mallee, Wimmera and Northern Country.

The worst of the winds, gusts of up to 120km/h, were expected later on Thursday night mostly in the mountain regions, including the Dandenong Ranges.

Mr Ryan said the winds were sliding from the Great Australian Bight into the state and were more typical of spring than winter.

"It's a bit more wind than we would normally get,'' Mr Ryan said.

He said the fierce winds were caused by warm days backed up by cold days which increased the wind pressure.

"It is usual for the depths of winter," he said.

Northerly winds of 30 to 50km/h are expected to increase to 40 to 60km/h by the afternoon and tend north-westerly Thursday evening.

Asked whether the winds were similar to those seen when the Grocon hoarding collapsed in Carlton on March 28, Mr Ryan said these winds were north-westerly rather than the westerly gust that was perpendicular to the site. On that day, the highest recorded gust was at 102km/h, a reading taken at St Kilda.

He said winds from the south and east were rarer, but he said he had noticed they often did the more damage.

The State Emergency Service advises that in windy conditions vehicles should be moved under cover and away from trees, loose items around homes, yards and balconies should be secured or put away, and people should keep clear of fallen power lines.