SES responds to spate of fallen trees as gusty winds lash state

The Bureau of Meteorology has also warned of potential hail and thunderstorms which are expected to pass over the state into early Friday morning.

Senior meteorologist Tom Bolden said the cold front would bring shower activity to the south-west of the state on Thursday afternoon.

"As the front crosses over tonight we will see those showers across much of southern and mountain areas," Mr Bolden said.

"However, we'll see a ridge dig in very quickly behind them and the showers will contract to the east and south in the overnight period.

"This front is bringing quite a lot of winds ... and we do have a severe weather warning for alpine and far southern areas with wind gusts generally around the 90-100km/h mark."

A spokesman for the State Emergency Service said volunteers had received 35 calls for assistance since Thursday morning, mainly for fallen trees north of Melbourne.

A warning to sheep graziers for much of the state has also been issued for cold temperatures, showers and strong northwesterly winds.

Mr Bolden said there was a chance gusts could reach up to 120km/h in alpine areas.

"In the wake of this front we will see a cold air mat very rapidly move through ... that the snowline will briefly drop down to about 900 metres [on Thursday night]," he said.

"That's unlikely to see much precipitation about the northern alps, however, the southern alps like Mount Baw Baw may see a brief period of snow."

He said temperatures would warm up across the state on Friday afternoon with a clear and warm Saturday predicted before another could front would cross the state in the latter part of Sunday.