Cold already snapping at Victoria

A damp and gloomy Bendigo only just warmed above eight degrees Wednesday afternoon, its coldest day in at least two years.

Rain in the northern Victorian town was steady and occasionally heavy, amounting to 23 millimetres, making this its wettest August day in seven years.

Wednesday's rain has taken Bendigo beyond 100mm for the month so far, already twice the monthly average and its wettest August in 18 years of records.

Rain chilled much of inland Victoria, keeping temperatures five to 10 below average. Near-record August cold affected Shepparton, Horsham and Redesdale which hovered around seven degrees Wednesday afternoon.

It was a little bit warmer in Melbourne even though it couldn't reach 12 degrees, for the third time this month and fifth time this winter. Wind chill made it feel more like seven or eight.

"The coldest air is yet to come. A front will bring a burst of strong, cold westerly winds, showers and small hail during Thursday, " Weatherzone meteorologist Brett Dutschke said.

"It's looking similarly cold as Monday when snow fell at Mount Macedon and other nearby towns, Dutschke said."

"During Thursday night and Friday, when the coldest air moves through, snow is a chance to fall as low as about 600 metres. This means Mount Macedon is likely again and Eildon is a chance too. A few flurries may even fall over the Dandenongs."

"Regarding the winds, the next two days will almost certainly be windier than today for most. Today winds exceeded 90km/h on the Alps."

"Friday should be the windiest day when a deep low passes just to the south of Tasmania. A good chance of 90 km/h gusts, beyond 100km/h on high ground, certainly strong enough to bring down trees and powerlines."

Severe Weather Warnings have been issued, including a thunderstorm warning for this evening for northwestern Victoria. Damaging winds and large hail are possible in storms this evening.