A man is dead after a falling tree hit his car in Melbourne's northeast amid widespread strong winds.
The 100m tree crashed onto the Holden Commodore travelling west on Warburton Highway at Lilydale on Friday , killing the 33-year-old driver from Wandin North.
The tree fell across the road and onto the car, but police are yet to determine the exact circumstances.
The Country Fire Authority reported the highway was blocked in both directions and that the damaging winds had torn down numerous powerlines across the state.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for most of Victoria, with gusts peaking at 111km/h at Mt William in the west and forecast to reach up to 125km/h.
Winds at Melbourne Airport and at St Kilda reached 87km/h by mid-morning.
Senior forecaster Steven McGibbony told reporters on Friday the winds in Melbourne are expected to ease from the late afternoon.
