Lorne was burried in snow on Tuesday but the Bureau of Meteorology says the chance of snow for low-level areas had passed. Credit:Falls Festival/Facebook More than 80 calls were for fallen trees in Mornington Peninsula, particularly Dromana, Frankston and Mount Martha. The strongest wind gusts were 95km/h at Wilsons Promontory, 89km/h at Cape Otway and 82km/h at Cape Nelson. An SES spokesman advised people to keep loose items in their backyards locked down in preparation for more wild weather.

A severe weather warning was issued by the Bureau of Meteorology on Tuesday morning for damaging winds across most of Victoria. Snow in Lorne, at the site of Falls Festival. Credit:Facebook/Falls Festival Bureau senior forecaster Richard Carlyon said the weather on Tuesday would probably be worse than on Monday, with gusts of between 90 and 100km/h and showers mainly around the coast and eastern ranges. "Melbourne hasn't seen that many showers so far, we've been in what's called a rain shadow where the mountains to the north have blocked those falls," he said. The wild spring weather should ease by Sunday. Credit:Joe Armao

"That will change later Tuesday and we'll see extensive showers, small hail is possible and even lightning." Mr Carlyon said Melbourne reached a high of 13 degrees on Tuesday, would see a high of 14 degrees on Wednesday and 15 degrees on Thursday before dropping to 12 degrees on Friday. Heavy snowfall at Mount Buller in the first week of September. "Then towards the second half of the weekend temperatures should creep up towards average with 17 degrees on Sunday and 19 degrees on Monday," he said. The forecaster said rain cover and wind meant minimum temperatures were not expected to drop below 6 degrees.

Mt Hotham has had 26 centimetres of snow since Monday morning. Credit:Karl Gray "But with wind chill it's going to feel a lot colder than that," he said. Snow news is good news for spring Fresh snow blanketed the alpine region with resorts getting top-ups of between 10 and 30 centimetres of snow. Jamie and Ryan Haworth, ages 6 and 4, playing as snow is falling at Day's Picnic Area, Mt Macedon, on Monday. Credit:Daniel Pockett

Huge snowfalls in Mount Hotham overnight has brought with it springtime weather conditions that haven't been seen in 26 years. Almost 30 centimetres of snow fell in Mouth Hotham, shutting down a large section of the Great Alpine Road. Snow and hail at St Mary's Primary School in Ballarat. Credit:Nadine Jankowski The road is closed from Harrietville to Mount Hotham due to poor visibility and heavy snow, but access is still possible via Omeo and Bairnsdale. "There is snow blowing around everywhere and there was about two metres of snow out our front door this morning. I don't remember conditions like this since the ski season in 1991," Mount Hotham Alpine Resort chief executive John Hutchins said

Mr Hutchins said it was the third major snow storm to hit the slopes this year and it was the second time the Great Alpine Road has been closed off by VicRoads. "People's safety is our number one priority," he said. "If there is any element of doubt the road gets closed off." Mr Carlyon said snow would continue to fall on Tuesday, mostly in areas above 700 metres. Mr Carlyon said between 10-30 centimetres of snow fell on the alpine resorts in the 24-hour period until 6am on Tuesday morning. He said the same amount of snow was expected in the 24 hours to Wednesday morning. "So for the resorts thinking spring would bring higher temperatures and receding snowlines, this will be an exceedingly good week building on the impressive depth they've already got," he said.

Police have warned people travelling to the snow to be prepared, after two men were trapped in their vehicles for days because of heavy snow in rural Victoria. "We're having significant snowfall, but people are still venturing into the back country," said Inspector Paul Hargeaves, of Hume police regional emergency management. "Avoid the back country areas during extreme weather. It is fraught with danger. No doubt you will become disoriented or stuck, and then police resources will have to pull you out. "Please heed the warnings and save us the heartache and potential consequences for people when they get lost. Hypothermia sets in very quickly in conditions like this." Inspector Hargreaves said two stranded hikers had been rescued from Staircase Spur, in Mount Bogong, in the early hours of Friday morning, after becoming disoriented.

Inspector Hargreaves said Mount Hotham Road remained closed on Tuesday afternoon, because of heavy snow. On Monday, Ballarat's CBD was coated with a sprinkle of snow, allowing the children at St Mary's Primary School in Clarkes Hill to throw snowballs. "It was a pretty thick drop of snow, so there was lot of it about to play with, and the children just had a ball," teacher Nadine Jankowski said. Light snow was also reported in Mount Macedon, Daylesford, Creswick, Gordon, Warrenheip and other small towns north east of Ballarat.