The most powerful cold front of the year has dipped the mercury to -5.2C at Falls Creek and delivered a timely snow dump to the Ski Resorts of Australia
VICTORIANS are battling freezing conditions as an intense cold front brings gale-force winds, heavy rain and snow storms.
The wild weather is causing havoc on the roads and public transport, with a fallen tree in the Highett area forcing the suspension of the Frankston train line.
The Herald Sun will provide live updates of weather conditions and incidents below.
Cars push through water on Beaconsfield Parade, Middle Park. Picture: Jay Town Source: News Corp Australia
1.30PM: WIDESPREAD power outages have been recorded across the state.
A car is being cleared at Mt Buller this morning following the huge dump. Picture: Andrew Railton
Every main electricity supplier has recorded outages, with the city least affected.
Some areas are expected to have outages until 4.30pm this afternoon.
Call you power distributor for more information.
Citipower
Coverage area: Melbourne City and inner suburbs
Call: 13 12 80
Jemena
Coverage area: Northern and north-western suburbs
Call: 13 16 26
Powercor
Coverage area: Western suburbs and western Victoria
Call: 13 24 12
SP AusNet
Coverage area: Outer northern and eastern suburbs and eastern Victoria
Call: 13 17 99
United Energy
Coverage area: southern suburbs and Mornington Peninsula
Call: 13 20 99
A barge off Brighton busted its moorings and is now floating about with a broken crane. Picture: Herald Sun reader Source: Supplied
An earlier photo of the loose barge in Brighton. Picture: Jay Town Source: News Corp Australia
1.15PM: STAFF photographer Richard Serong captured this image of the brick wall that collapsed in Yarraville around 11.30am, injuring one woman.
She remains in the Western Hospital in a stable condition.
High winds have caused this wall to collapse in Williamstown Rd. Picture: Richard Serong Source: News Corp Australia
The force of the wild winds hasn’t helped those trying to protect themselves against the rain. Picture: Ellen Smith Source: News Corp Australia
This pedestrian had fun battling the weather with his umbrella. Picture: Ellen Smith Source: News Corp Australia
12.55 PM: SKI resorts are getting a boost with the wild weather bringing much-needed falls of snow to what has been an otherwise slow start to the season.
The Bureau of Meteorology said while they haven’t had many reports of snow, Gisborne is believed to be covered with sleet.
Falls Creek received 20cm of snow overnight and 16cm since 6am.
Marketing and communications manager Jo Prothero said while no lifts have been opened yet, they are hoping to have a couple operational tomorrow.
“It’s just in time for the school holidays.”
Flooding on Queensbridge St. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: News Corp Australia
12.40PM: POWER outages have now hit over 60,000 homes across Melbourne.
Lyall Johnson from Powercor told 3AW customers in Bacchus Marsh, Colac, Werribee, Glen Waverley, Mornington and Frankston areas are without power.
12.35PM: FIERCE winds have lead to a truck rolling on the Tullamarine Freeway plus the overturning of a shipping container and car in Laverton North.
12.31 PM: METRO has suspended trains between Bell and South Morang as the wild weather continues to create chaos for commuters and drivers.
Fallen trees along the line are currently preventing trains from passing through.
12.24 PM: AUSTRALIAN ski resorts are lapping up the wild weather, with snow expected to fall throughout the week.
Mt Hotham received 50cm in the last 24 hours, with another 20cm forecast for the rest of today.
One lift has been opened, the Summit Trainer, with another two, Upper Playground and Big D, will open this afternoon.
Flooding around Southbank. Picture: David Caird. Source: News Corp Australia
Mt Hotham resort brand manager Connie Lurger said they are hoping to have a few more chairlifts available tomorrow.
“We are just assessing the situation at the moment,” she said.
“Our snow teams are working tirelessly to get more up and running.”
She said the mass dumping came at the right time after having a late start to the ski season.
“The amount of snowfall we’ve had in such a short period of time is just incredible. It’s definitely started with a bang.”
She said a new cold front moving in on Saturday should bring another 25cm to the mountain.
The wild weather hits Ponyfish Island. Picture: David Caird. Source: News Corp Australia
12:20PM: SOUTHBANK’S famous Ponyfish Island bar might be in trouble if this weather persists. (Picture via Peter Woolsey)
12:17PM: THE winds are whipping Port Phillip Bay into a frenzy. (Video via Matt from Williamstown)
12.10PM: A WOMAN aged in her 60s, has suffered minor injuries after gale force winds knocked over a brick wall as she walked along Williamstown Rd in Yarraville about 11.30am.
Paramedics treated the woman at the scene, near Yarraville Football Club, before taking her to Western Hospital in a stable condition.
It comes a day after father-of-two Michael Klanja was killed when a brick wall collapsed on him during strong winds on a residential building site in Brighton East.
12.02PM: THE wild weather is causing havoc on our roads and public transport system with a fallen tree over train tracks in Highett forcing the suspension of trains on the Frankston line.
EARLIER: BUREAU of Meteorology duty forecaster Steven McGibbony said although the temperature was 8.7C at 9am in the city, it felt more like -2C due to the wind chill factor.
“The good news is that not much more rain is expected, but gales of up to 130km/h are set to hit the state, with the biggest risk areas being Bayside and the Mornington Peninsula,” he said.
Mr McGibbony said the strong winds would continue into the early evening.
“Winds will still be at about 90km/h right throughout the afternoon,” he said.
MEGABLIZZARD: Fresh snow, fresh pics as the snowstorm of the century strikes
“During the overnight period they should start to ease back, but it will still be fresh and gusty.”
The worst conditions are due to hit Melbourne between 10am and noon, with predicted winds of 100km/h to 110km/h, with stronger winds in some areas.
“For those eastern bayside suburbs and the coastal fringe winds could be up to 120km/h to 130km/h,” another forecaster James Taylor said.
“Ultimately the severe weather warning is for damaging winds across the whole state but potentially destructive winds could occur in central and western coastal areas, alpine areas, elevated areas of South Gippsland and the Otway Ranges.”
A top temperature of 14C is forecast for Melbourne today, with a few showers and 16C on Wednesday and Thursday.
Commuters struggle into work through the cold wet weather in Melbourne. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: News Corp Australia
Umbrellas this morning were a must, as rain poured during rush hour. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: News Corp Australia
Little Mia, 4, held tightly on to her umbrella in Southbank on her way to kindergarten. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: News Corp Australia
Lulu Freedman is overjoyed with the fresh snow at Falls Creek, with forecasters tipping up to 100cm of new snow this week. Source: Supplied
The snowy entrance to Mt Buller this morning, which sets the resort up for winter. Picture: Andrew Railton Source: Supplied
Terry Saggers is in the right place to enjoy the first real snow dump at Mt Buller. Picture: Andrew Railton. Source: Supplied
Snow falls and strong winds will create poor conditions in alpine areas.
A dusting of snow is predicted to cover Mt Dandenong and Mt Macedon while alpine areas could see up to 50cm of snow.
Mt Baw Baw received 10cm-15cm of snow overnight, while Mt Buller and Falls Creek have seen the first real falls for the 2014 season.
“We’re expecting follow-up snow through the rest of the week with cold fronts and a further 20 to 40cm by the end of the weekend,” Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Andrea Peace said.
Have you seen any wild weather? Send us your photos here
Margaret McCoppin and her Maltese Jack Russell cross, Alfie, cop an icy blast. Picture: Cormac Hanrahan. Source: News Corp Australia
The State Emergency Service (SES) has warned Victorians to park cars under cover or away from trees, secure or store loose items around their houses and stay clear of fallen powerlines.
SES spokesperson Stefan Delatovic said they received 210 calls for help yesterday, with more than half in greater metropolitan Melbourne after gales of up to 95km/h hit the area.
“Most calls were about trees being blown down … and we had 30 calls for minor building damage like tiles lifting off roofs.”
Mr Delatovic expected to get a spike in calls today.
There are severe weather warnings for the Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, North Central, North East, South West, Central, West and South Gippsland and East Gippsland forecast districts.
For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 132 500.
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