Melbourne's sunny, calm start to the weekend is set for a jolt with a strong cold front approaching that will bring possible damaging winds.
A severe weather warning has been issued for southern and central areas of the state with damaging wind gusts predicted.
The front, bringing gusts up to 90km/h will move in from Victoria's southwest on Saturday night, the peak expected to reach Melbourne by about 10pm, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
"There is a line of thunderstorms along the front at the moment and we expect some of those to push into southwest Victoria this evening," Senior Forecaster Dean Stewart said on Saturday.
"Winds will gradually pick up as the night progresses."
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Melbourne can also expect some showers when the front hits.
There will be blizzards in alpine areas with up to half-a-metre of snow expected and possible wind gusts of up to 110km/h.
The worst of the weather will hit the alps after midnight on Saturday through to the midnight Sunday.
People heading to ski resorts are being advised to listen to emergency broadcasts and check the VicRoads website for possible road closures.
The front will also send temperatures plummeting across the state with a sheep graziers warning in place.
The State Emergency Service is warning people to move vehicles under cover or away from trees and secure loose items around houses.
Melbourne can expect a showery top of 14 degrees Celsius on Saturday with an overnight of low of 7 degrees Celsius.
The severe weather warning has been issued for people in the Central, South West, North Central and parts of the East Gippsland, North East, West and South Gippsland and Wimmera Forecast Districts.
