Victoria is bracing for wild winds across the state, blizzards in alpine areas and possible flooding in Melbourne.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds and blizzards for people in the West and South Gippsland and East Gippsland forecast districts.

A low pressure system coming from Tasmania will bring damaging winds of 50 to 70 kilometres per hour, with peak gusts of 90 to 100kph.

Wind gusts recorded so far included 126kph at Wilsons Promontory, 95kph at Cape Nelson, south-west of Portland, and 93kph at Mount William, west of Ararat.

Weather bureau senior forecaster Rod Dickson said hail was not expected until later on Tuesday night.

Loading

"Probably not until overnight tonight, when we see the really cold air, following this frontal system that's moving across southern Victoria at the moment," he said.

"It has already moved through the metropolitan area, in fact we've probably already achieved our maximum of 15.7 [degrees Celsius] at 7:40am this morning - the temperature has dropped since then.

"Believe it or not the really cold air following this front won't move up into the south west until this evening, and into the metropolitan area overnight tonight.

"A real taste of winter over the next 24-48 hours, but some improvement there over the weekend."

Snow has been forecast to fall below 600 metres, over much of the Dandenong Ranges, the Yarra Ranges and hills around Melbourne.

Rivers and creeks in the Melbourne metropolitan area could also flood in coming days.

The State Emergency Service has warned people to move vehicles under cover and away from trees, secure and store loose items, and stay clear of fallen powerlines.

A sheep graziers' warning is in place for the same regions, as well as the Wimmera district.

A flood watch has been issued for the Greater Melbourne catchment, which includes the Yarra, Maribyrnong, Werribee and Bunyip rivers, the Dandenong Creek, and their tributaries.

Recent rain has brought the eastern portion of the catchment to near-saturation point - and up to 50 millimetres of rain could fall in parts of the Melbourne area by Wednesday night.

Minor flooding is expected from late Tuesday.

Mr Dickson said the cold weather would persist until the weekend.

"We'll get a real taste of winter over the next 24-48 hours, but some improvement there over the weekend," he said.

Victoria's alpine areas already received snowfalls last week, almost a month before the season is due to open, with Falls Creek and Mt Hotham reporting around 10-15cm for the week.

Grey skies over Melbourne, as thunderstorms and hail are forecast from Tuesday night. ( ABC News: Clare Rawlinson )

ABC/AAP